The escape attempt that had parts of Portland’s attention fixed along the Willamette River has come to its conclusion with the suspect now behind bars. According to the Portland Police Bureau, Nathan V. Kaleel, 36, of Portland was booked on charges of Robbery in the Third Degree and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree following an alleged theft turned chase that culminated with the suspect taking an impromptu swim.
The chain of events unfolded when Kaleel was accused of using physical force to steal a tripod from an individual, also reportedly damaging the victim’s cell phone in the process, the tripod was found later on the roof of a nearby structure meanwhile bystanders witnessed the dramatic chase, which continued with Kaleel attempting to elude officers by submerging himself in the waters of the Willamette, only to be discovered amidst the Ross Island foliage.
After being retrieved from the island by the capable hands of Portland Fire & Rescue via boat, the law’s long arm had a brief intermission as Kaleel was transported to a local hospital for treatment of a hand injury said to have been sustained prior to his aquatic escape attempt. This hospital visit was merely a pit stop on his route to incarceration; post-treatment saw him transferred directly from medical care to police custody…