Man Dies After Jumping Into Lake To Flee Police
Updated 10/06/11 - 10:14 a.m.
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A New Jersey man died Wednesday night after jumping into Lake Michigan in an attempt to evade police trying to check his identity, officials said.
Amit A. Patel, of 40 Terry Ave. in Edison, N.J., was pulled from Lake Michigan near 1000 E. Ohio St., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. Patel, 31, was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital at 9:32 p.m.
Police were talking to the man and trying to conduct a name check when he instead jumped into the lake at 8:11 p.m., police News Affairs Officer Daniel O'Brien said.
The officers were trying to close down the park and clear out loiterers, including Patel, when they asked for his name, sources said.
He was under water for about 45 minutes before emergency crews found him near Olive Park Beach on the Near North Side, according to Fire Media Affairs.
Crews initially took him to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in "extremely critical" condition, according to Fire Media Affairs.
An autopsy to determine the cause and manner of his death is scheduled for Thursday.
Belmont Area detectives are investigating.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
