Fleeing Redmond driver caught after canal swim

A Redmond man who refused to pull over for a minor traffic violation Friday afternoon left his SUV in a parking lot and ran, then tried to avoid officers by swimming in an irrigation canal, but was caught and jailed on numerous charges, police said.

Around 3 p.m., police tried to pull over a gold 2001 Dodge Durango near Southwest Canal Boulevard and Umatilla Avenue for cutting across private property, a violation of a city ordinance, said Lt. Keith Knight.

The driver, later identified as Andrew Lee Burchett, 37, continued south on Canal, and turned into the parking lot of Brookside Place, an assisted living facility, Knight said.

Burchett then ran from the SUV, trying to avoid officers by jumping in the canal, Knight said. But once out of the canal, he was taken into custody without further incident, with the help of Oregon State Police troopers.

Burchett was taken to the Deschutes County Jail in Bend and held on more than $15,000 bail, facing charges of felony and misdemeanor attempt to elude, felon in possession of a restricted weapon, second-degree trespass and two counts of third-degree criminal mischief.

Knight said Redmond police wanted to thank OSP for their assistance in the case.

Anyone with more information that could help police was asked to contact Redmond police at (541) 504-3400 or the non-emergency dispatch number at (541) 693-6911.