Lexington man allegedly tried to swim over a 1/2 mile to try and escape police

CORBIN, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — A Lexington man in Whitley County was arrested on Sunday after a police chase went into the water.

According to an arrest citation, a Corbin Police Department officer allegedly saw 36-year-old Justin Dodd, from Lexington, fail to signal a right turn.

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The officer turned on his emergency lights and attempted to stop Dodd but he allegedly didn’t stop.

The citation said a chase began with the officer witnessing Dodd pass another car on the wrong side of the road around a blind turn forcing it off of the road. The chase continued to the bottom of the 312 boat ramp on the Laurel/Whitley County line, near the Laurel Bridge Recreational area.

Dodd allegedly drove the vehicle to the edge of the river where he jumped into the river and swam away.

The officer said Dodd was located about 45 minutes later, over half a mile away from where he jumped in.

He ultimately surrendered himself to the police.

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According to the citation, police searched Dodd and his vehicle, finding two fake driver’s licenses and a forged check.

Dodd was arrested and charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle), first-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot), first-degree wanton endangerment, theft of identity of another without consent, reckless driving, driving on DUI suspended license -first offense, first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, second-degree forgery, and failure to or improper signal.

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