Man jumps into Big Walnut Creek after early morning high-speed chase through Columbus

A high-speed chase through Columbus ended in a water rescue after a man accused of stealing a vehicle bailed out and jumped off a bridge into Big Walnut Creek, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

A sheriff's deputy attempted to pull over a Jeep Compass that had been reported stolen at 3:50 a.m. on Cleveland Avenue and Innis Road on Columbus’ Northeast Side, but the driver, later identified as Adam Garber, 45, fled, the sheriff's office reported.

Garber led sheriff’s deputies and Columbus police officers on a roughly 15-mile chase through Columbus, ending at Gerling Boulevard and South Hamilton Road on the city's Southeast Side. Garber left the vehicle on foot and jumped into the creek, the sheriff's office reported.

Columbus Division of Fire's water rescue team was called to the scene to help locate Garber, who was found clinging to a tree branch after about 30 minutes of searching. He was taken into custody.

Garber has been charged with felony receiving stolen property and failure to comply, the sheriff's office reported. Additional charges are likely.

bagallion@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Man jumps into Big Walnut Creek after early morning high-speed chase through Columbus