CHICAGO (STMW) – A man rescued Tuesday night from “Bubbly Creek” after jumping into the South Side waters to avoid police has died.
Jason Kitchekeg, 26, was pronounced dead at 8:06 p.m. at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
Police initially responded about 6:45 p.m. to a report of three people tagging property with graffiti in the 2800 block of South Ashland Avenue, police News Affairs Officer Daniel O’Brien said.
Two suspects were taken into custody, but a third man attempted to flee and ended up in an area of the South Branch of the Chicago River known as “Bubbly Creek,” O’Brien said. Police said the man jumped into the water when he was pursued by officers.
The Chicago Police Marine Unit responded to the person in the water at 6:47 p.m. Fire Media Affairs spokesman Quention Curits said the man was rescued from the water 20 to 30 minutes later.
The fully-clothed man was initially taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in critical condition, Fire Media Affairs spokesman Quention Curtis said.
Wentworth Area detectives are investigating.
Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.