Man Flees Sheriffs Deputy on a Traffic Stop Abandoning A Three Year Old Boy

A Yakima man faces several charges after he tried to flee police by jumping into the Yakima River and abandoning his three year old boy during a traffic stop. A Kittitas County Sheriffs Deputy pulled over 36 year old Eliberto Rivera Thursday 9 miles south of Ellensburg on State Route 821 along the Yakima River Canyon. The deputy suspected that Rivera was intoxicated so he started to give  him a sobriety test. During the test Rivera ran away, threw a bag from his person, jumped into the river and swam to the other side.   The deputy seized the bag which contained approximately seven grams of methamphetamine.

With the help of the Washington State Patrol and a Kittitas County Sheriff's Office boat he was soon arrested.  Rivera faces charges of driving while under the influence, reckless
endangerment, due to the driver suspected of being under the influence and having a child in the vehicle and and possession of  methamphetamine. The three year old was released to his mother.