Editor’s note: Video is from a previous story

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A Festus, Missouri, man has been charged after attempting a daring escape from authorities following a bi-state police pursuit.

According to the St. Louis County Police Department’s probable cause statement, the pursuit began around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, on eastbound Interstate 70 near the Blanchette Bridge in Earth City.

Police said officers attempted to pull over Jack J. Roper (age not provided), who was driving a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck bearing Audi license plates.

Roper swerved toward a police vehicle during the pursuit, police said. Officers eventually spiked Roper’s tires. The chase went over the Chain of Rocks Bridge into Illinois and came back over the bridge back toward Missouri.

Police said Roper stopped on the bridge, got out the truck, and threatened to jump from the bridge into the Mississippi River. Officers attempted to talk Roper into surrendering, but he grabbed a piece of lumber from the truck and tossed it into the river before jumping after it.

Roper left behind two people in the truck. One of the individuals told police they did not want to be involved and told Roper to stop multiple times.

Police said they located Roper at the water treatment plant in Riverview, thanks to the use of the St. Louis Fire Department’s boats.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Roper with two counts of second-degree assault, one count of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention, and one count of second-degree kidnapping. Roper remains jailed on a $500,000 cash-only bond. Online records did not show when Roper is scheduled to appear in court.