COPLAY, Pa. – Recovering efforts are underway for a man who the police say ran into the Lehigh River after being served with a warrant.
It happened at the river near the Whitehall Township-Coplay border shortly before 11:45 a.m.
Crews have been searching the river near Whitehall Township, Coplay, and Northampton since late Thursday morning.
The man appeared to be struggling in the river after he ran into it, dispatches said.
“It’s after a warrant. The male ran into the river and now it looks like he’s struggling in the river,” according to dispatches.
The Coplay police chief says they are now notifying the man’s next of kin to find out if there’s any information that his family has.
Investigators say they want to make sure the man hasn’t made any other contact or tried to escape the area.
Authorities say there are environmental challenges posed — such as the terrain itself and the speed of the river.
Crews say that a person would not be able to safely hold onto a branch if they were in the river, because of how fast the water is moving.
Police say they have dispatched several boats and have been using underwater sonar, and several other devices to try to find the person.
Investigators say they’ve exhausted their options at this point and might resume the search efforts if they get any leads or new information.
Stick with 69 News and wfmz.com for updates on this developing story.