Man arrested after trying to escape deputies in Yakima River near Prosser

A man spent nearly an hour swimming in the Yakima River on Saturday trying to escape deputies before getting caught near Prosser.

Benton County sheriff’s deputies were looking for Jacob P. Munoz, 33, after he took a car without permission at 2 a.m. Saturday. Then shortly before 11:30 a.m., a deputy spotted the car near the intersection of Missimer Road and North River Road, Sgt. Horacio Gonzalez said.

As he checked out the area, the deputy and Munoz spotted each other. The man started sprinting away, hopping over fences and going through backyards as the deputy chased him.

He finally ended up in the river. As he tried to swim across, police surrounded the area.

He approached the shore, and tried threatening and threw rocks at the deputies trying to get them to give up. The deputies continued to monitor him until he became tired and came on shore shortly before 1 p.m.

Munoz was arrested and is being booked into Benton County jail.

Along with Prosser police, Benton County Fire District 6, West Benton Fire Rescue and Columbia Basin Dive Rescue were called in to help if Munoz needed help.