Police officer, suspect hospitalized for hypothermia after foot chase in Sussex County
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP, NJ (Sussex County) – A police officer and a 42-year-old New York man were hospitalized for hypothermia after running into freezing waters in Andover Township
On Jan. 17, at around 8:34 a.m., Andover Township police had located a Chevy Avalanche pickup truck traveling southbound along Andover-Mohawk Road going towards Andover Borough. The vehicle in question had been eluding prior police contacts in other jurisdictions, police said.
After seeing an Andover Township patrol vehicle turnaround, the driver, later identified as Joseph M. Flood of Port Jervis, continued southbound on Andover-Mohawk Road, police said.
The officer moments later had come upon the Chevy Avalanche which had crashed into a utility pole at the intersection of Roseville Road and Andover-Mohawk Road due to failing to negotiate the curve, police said.
Flood then exited the vehicle and began to run through the woods at which time officers began to pursue him. He then entered into a swampy area between Andover-Mohawk Road and Roseville Road.
Flood continued to move about the swamp in an attempt to elude officers. Upon the arrival of the Byram Township Police Department and additional officers from Andover Township, Flood was contained to the swampy area, police said.
“Several officers forged through the frigid waters waist to neck deep in order to take Flood into custody,” police said.
Upon Flood and the officers from Andover Township and Byram coming back to shore, everyone was brought to nearby ambulances where everyone was treated for hypothermia. A police officer and Flood were both transported to Newton Medical Center, police said.
Due to the frigid temperatures and officers entering into the water, Ice Rescue Teams had been deployed to the scene by Andover Township Fire Department and Byram Township Fire Department, police said.
Flood remains in custody with charges pending including being a wanted person out of New York State, police said.
The roadway remains closed while JCP&L crews make repairs to the downed pole and wires, police said.
The Andover Borough Fire Department, NJSP, Sussex County Sheriff’s Department, Sparta Township Police Department, Vernon Police, Andover Township DPW, Sussex County DPW and Byram Township DPW assisted at the scene.
