Man flees police in underwear after traffic stop

[July 22, 2008]  GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (AP) -- A western New York man who police say tore off his off clothes and fled after being pulled over in a routine traffic stop is now wearing a jail uniform.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office said a 27-year-old man was stopped at 8:45 a.m. Saturday on Grand Island. When the deputy returned to his car with the man's license, the man stripped down to his underwear and ran into the woods.

He eluded police until around 11:30 p.m., when he was spotted in the nearby town of Tonawanda, this time wearing clothes.

Police said he then jumped into the Niagara River but quickly got tired of swimming and surrendered.

Authorities said the man's license is suspended and he was wanted misdemeanor drug charges.

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Information from: The Buffalo News, http://www.buffalonews.com/

[Associated Press]

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