KALAMAZOO, Michigan — Police are working to identify a body that was recovered from the Kalamazoo River Tuesday, the Department of Public Safety confirms.
The body was discovered in the area of the river north of the Patterson Street bridge.
Detectives and forensic officials are working to find out if the remains belong to a man who jumped into the river while trying to evade police in early January. However, they have not confirmed this yet.
The man had been driving a motorcycle near Michigan Avenue and Rose Street when an officer attempted to stop him for a license plate violation, according to police.
The man refused to stop. He later abandoned his motorcycle after it suffered mechanical issues near Harrison Street and E Michigan Avenue and ran from officers.
In body camera footage, the man is then shown jumping into the Kalamazoo River. He appeared to be swimming across the river, but was soon carried downriver.
Officers can be heard telling the man to come out of the water and calling for backup, saying the man appeared to be drowning.
"Come out here now," said one officer to the man as he moved downriver. "You're gonna die in there, dude."
Several officers later jumped into the river in an attempt to rescue the man. Police say the man went under the water and did not resurface.
The last time a body was found in the Kalamazoo River was in July 2021.
The man was identified as Brian Trahey, an experienced diver.
Officials confirmed 80 people were involved in the rescue and over 10 agencies contributed. The current of the dam was stopped for the search. Hours later, his body was found.
Trahey was working for Great Lakes Engineering Group and completing an underwater inspection on the Calkins Bridge Dam when he went missing around noon, according to Consumers Energy. Great Lakes Engineering Group says Trahey was highly experienced and had performed over 1,000 dives.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 269-337-8139 to speak with a Detective. You can also submit a tip anonymously through the Kalamazoo Silent Observer tip line at 269-343-2100, the “P3Tips” app or online.
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