Man drives pickup off Astoria pier fleeing police

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) – A suspected boat prowler fleeing from police drove his pickup off an Astoria pier and into the Columbia River.

The Daily Astorian reports 27-year-old Timofey Erofeeff of Scotts Mill swam a couple of hundred feet into the frigid river before deciding to swim back Wednesday. Fishermen on a nearby boat helped rescue him.

He was treated for hypothermia and later booked into the Clatsop County Jail on felony charges of burglary and attempting to elude police, as well as several misdemeanors.

In a court filing, the arresting officer from the Astoria Police Department estimated that Erofeeff was driving 45 mph when the pickup launched off the pier. A gasoline slick could be seen on the surface of the water.

Deputy Astoria Police Chief Eric Halverson said the department has been in contact with the Coast Guard about retrieving the Ford F-150 pickup.

The Daily Astorian quoted police as saying police spotted Erofeef trespassing on boats. They were going to stop and arrest him on a criminal trespass charge and also were advised to take him into custody for a Deschutes County parole violation. He took off as they approached his truck to make the arrest.

The paper said he had previous arrests in Clackamas County for burglary and Deschutes County for theft.