Matthew McNeal, 30, of Grants Pass is in the Jackson County Jail charged with Elude, both in a vehicle and on foot, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, disorderly conduct and a plethora of traffic citations.

Wednesday afternoon a Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy was waiting for an impound tow at 4th Avenue and Dardanelles in Gold Hill when he identified a stolen vehicle as it passed. After the tow truck arrived he searched for the stolen vehicle driving up Dardanelles when the vehicle, a 2005 Malibu was coming down the hill.

When the deputy attempted a traffic stop the Chevy sped off, turning down 2nd Avenue and into Gold Hill Estates trailer park where McNeal left the vehicle, ran through the front door of a family member’s trailer and out the back, jumping into the Rogue River and tried to swim away.

He was captured a short time later.