A large police presence was seen in the village of Watkins Glen on Wednesday morning after a man wanted on a probation violation warrant fled from officers attempting to take him into custody.
Authorities spotted 24-year-old Xavier Beach riding a bicycle near Second and North Decatur streets just after 9 a.m. When officers approached, Beach took off, riding a short distance before abandoning his bike and running behind homes. Multiple officers responded to establish a perimeter.
Beach was later seen near Fifth Street and North Porter but continued east before police could contain him. A civilian tip reported that he had jumped a fence and was running south along the railroad tracks. Officers tracked him south of Walmart, heading toward a swamp. The Watkins Glen Fire Department deployed a drone to assist in the search.
A Watkins Glen Police officer later spotted Beach near 12th Street, just east of the high school. In an attempt to evade capture, Beach jumped into the canal but soon began struggling in the freezing water. Law enforcement entered the water to rescue him as he grew weak and was overcome by the current.
Beach was pulled from the canal and taken into custody before receiving medical treatment from Cayuga Health Transport and Watkins Glen Rescue. He was then transported to Schuyler Emergency Room for treatment of cold exposure.
After being medically cleared, Beach was taken to the Schuyler County Jail, where he is being held without bail pending his probation violation hearing in Schuyler County Court.
Assisting the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office and Watkins Glen Police Department were New York State Police, Schuyler County Probation, Schuyler County Investigators and New York State Police investigators.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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