Man Flees Police, Drowns Trying To Swim Channel

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Daniel [email protected]

NORTH WEBSTER - A 21-year-old Winona Lake man died Sunday morning after he fled police near Barbee Lake.

The body of Jarrod L. Neibert, 200 Lakeview Drive, Winona Lake, was pulled from the lake late Sunday morning.

According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, dispatch received a call around 5:05 a.m. Sunday of suspicious activity in the area of EMS B37 Lane near Lake Estates Mobile Home Park at Irish Lake.

North Webster police officer Justin Lentz was the first on scene, followed by KCSD officers Kevin Gelbaugh and Shawn Castillo.

Police reports indicated officers located an all-terrain vehicle in the road and a short time later a pickup truck pulling a trailer arrived.

Three men were in the truck and one of them identified himself ast the owner of the ATV.

Officers attempted to identify the men and questioned them regarding their activity in the area.

One of the men, later identified as Neibert, gave a false name to officers, police said.

While officers checked the identity of the men, Neibert fled the scene on foot.

There was an active burglary and theft warrant out for Neibert, although police were unaware of the warrant at the time Neibert fled.

Officers gave chase and Neibert jumped into a neaby channel and attempted to swim across in an attempt to flee police.

Other officers arrived at the scene and took up positions on the opposite side of the channe while Niebert was still in the water.

Police said that Neibert was 50 yards from the shore when he began yelling that he couldn't make it to shore and began struggling in the water.

Neibert went under the water and drowned.

Officers on either side of the channel were unable to reach neibert in time to rescue hims, police reports said.

It took several hours for the county's dive team, with the help of Indiana Department of Natural Resources officers and North Webster Fire Department, to recover Neibert's body.

An autopsy on Neibert is scheduled for today.[[In-content Ad]]

NORTH WEBSTER - A 21-year-old Winona Lake man died Sunday morning after he fled police near Barbee Lake.

The body of Jarrod L. Neibert, 200 Lakeview Drive, Winona Lake, was pulled from the lake late Sunday morning.

According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, dispatch received a call around 5:05 a.m. Sunday of suspicious activity in the area of EMS B37 Lane near Lake Estates Mobile Home Park at Irish Lake.

North Webster police officer Justin Lentz was the first on scene, followed by KCSD officers Kevin Gelbaugh and Shawn Castillo.

Police reports indicated officers located an all-terrain vehicle in the road and a short time later a pickup truck pulling a trailer arrived.

Three men were in the truck and one of them identified himself ast the owner of the ATV.

Officers attempted to identify the men and questioned them regarding their activity in the area.

One of the men, later identified as Neibert, gave a false name to officers, police said.

While officers checked the identity of the men, Neibert fled the scene on foot.

There was an active burglary and theft warrant out for Neibert, although police were unaware of the warrant at the time Neibert fled.

Officers gave chase and Neibert jumped into a neaby channel and attempted to swim across in an attempt to flee police.

Other officers arrived at the scene and took up positions on the opposite side of the channe while Niebert was still in the water.

Police said that Neibert was 50 yards from the shore when he began yelling that he couldn't make it to shore and began struggling in the water.

Neibert went under the water and drowned.

Officers on either side of the channel were unable to reach neibert in time to rescue hims, police reports said.

It took several hours for the county's dive team, with the help of Indiana Department of Natural Resources officers and North Webster Fire Department, to recover Neibert's body.

An autopsy on Neibert is scheduled for today.[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Bourbon Man Killed In Single-Vehicle Crash
A Bourbon man was killed in a one-vehicle accident.

The Penalty Box: Plans Are Only Plans
I ate from the sampler platter of sports last weekend.

Notice Of Administration
EU-000046 Hull

Notice Of Administration
EU-000049 Nelson

Kosciusko County Drainage Board
Maintenance Assessment