REDDING, Calif. – A man was taken into custody by Redding Police on Sunday morning after officers said he led officers on a pursuit and jumped into the Sacramento River.

Authorities say at around 3 a.m. on Sunday, an officer with the Redding Police Department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle for having false license plates in the area of Bonnyview Avenue and North Bonnyview Road.

There were four occupants inside of the vehicle, and according to Redding Police, they were all acting extremely nervous. Their behavior immediately raised the suspicion of the officer.

38-year-old Michael Smith of Redding was identified as the driver of the vehicle. The Redding Police Department says that Smith provided a false name during the investigation.

When the officer attempted to verify his identity, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and swerved towards a responding patrol unit, which nearly caused a collision.

A pursuit was initiated by officers as Smith drove through the west side of Redding.

Authorities say that during the pursuit, Smith took the vehicle off-road in the area of the Turtle Bay Arboretum and drove onto the Sacramento River Trail. The vehicle continued west through Caldwell Park before coming to a stop near the boat ramp.

Redding Police says that Smith and a male passenger from the vehicle took off on foot and headed into the Sacramento River, while two female passengers stayed inside of the vehicle.

Officers later learned that the two women had been pleading with Smith to be released from the vehicle during the pursuit, but Smith had refused to stop in order to them to get out. Both women were interviewed by authorities and were released.

Smith and the male passenger floated away in the waters of the Sacramento River in an easterly direction towards the diversion dam in the area of the fish ladder.

Redding Police says that Smith eventually swam over to shore but refused to obey commands by officers to exit the water. It took around 20 minutes of negotiation with Smith before he eventually exited the river. Smith was assisted by the embankment by a rescue team dispatched by the Redding Fire Department.

Authorities say that Smith continued to act belligerently during transport to the hospital. After he was medically cleared at the hospital, Smith was transported and booked into the Shasta County Jail on charges of felony evading, kidnapping, and a felony burglary warrant out of Trinity County.

The Redding Police Department says that the male passenger who entered the Sacramento River with Smith was not located. Officers utilized a drone, a police K9, and were assisted by the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office and Redding Fire Department as an extensive search was conducted along the river and the riverbank.

However, the passenger was not found. Authorities say that it is unknown if the man made it to shore. The Redding Police Department says that search efforts would continue throughout the day.

Anyone who may have information related to the incident are asked to contact the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200.