Man Jumps To Death In Clinton River After Running From Police

MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) - The Macomb County Sheriff's Department is investigating why a man ran from police early Wednesday morning then jumped to his death in the Clinton River.

Officers in Clinton Township said it was just before 1 a.m. when they tried to question the man after he was seen walking not far from a Walgreen's store on Gratiot, where just moments earlier an armed robbery had taken place.

Sherriff Anthony Wickersham said officers approached 25-year-old Scott Peabody, who was waiting at a bus stop, because he matched the robbery suspect's description.

Wickersham said that's when Peabody fled and jumped into the river where he quickly ran into the trouble.

"They saw that he was having problems making it across and went under," Wickersham told WWJ Newsradio 950's Marie Osborne. "Deputies attempted to try and rescue him and get him out of the water but, due to the hazardous conditions, they were unable to."

Harrison Township Fire and Rescue divers scoured the river and found Peabody submerged in about five feet of chilly water where he'd been for about 30 minutes. He died at a local hospital a short time later.

Clinton Township Police Captain Richard Maierle said Peabody was wanted in a couple other court cases.

Wickersham said it turned out that Peabody was not the person who robbed the Wallgreen's. That person is still at large.