Man who jumped into creek after police chase has lengthy criminal past

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A man with a lengthy criminal past who was arrested Tuesday after he evaded police during a high-speed chase and jumped off a southeast Columbus bridge was in court Wednesday.

Adam Garber, 45, was issued a $100,000 bond in Franklin County Municipal Court Wednesday morning. Garber was also issued conditions under his bond including no use of alcohol or drugs and no possession of firearms.

He was charged with receiving stolen property and failure to comply after driving a reportedly stolen Jeep away from law enforcement before jumping off a bridge into the water. Garber has faced well over a dozen charges in Franklin County municipal and common pleas courts dating back nearly 30 years ago. Among his previous charges include drug offenses, multiple charges of receiving stolen property, theft, and aggravated menacing.

According to deputies, a sheriff spotted what appeared to be a reported stolen Jeep Compass near the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Huy Road, in North Linden at around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday. Garber sped away and a pursuit began. Authorities said the vehicle reached up to 100 MPH on Columbus interstates with the driver eventually heading south on South Hamilton Road, past Interstate 270 and Refugee Road.

At around 4:06 a.m., the vehicle pursuit stopped on South Hamilton Rd. near a bridge over Big Walnut Creek. Garber reportedly got out of the car and jumped off the bridge into the water.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office called the Columbus Division of Police and the Columbus Fire Water and Rescue crews for assistance in locating the suspect. A search in the immediate area lasted about 30 minutes before Garber was seen clinging to a tree branch near the bank of the creek. He was helped out of the creek and apprehended.

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