Here’s why a Riegelsville woman jumped into the Delaware River last month, sparking search
A 31-year-old Riegelsville woman is facing misdemeanor charges after she triggered a two-hour search-and-rescue effort last month when she jumped into the Delaware River.
Pennsylvania State Police troopers in Dublin allege that Deanna Attinello jumped from a canal path ledge into the river on Jan. 15 in an attempt to escape arrest on an outstanding warrant, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Attinello was missing for several hours before she was found uninjured in Riegelsville, police said.
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The incident started shortly after 6:30 p.m. when state police were sent to a home in the 800 block of Durham Street in Riegelsville Borough for a domestic situation.
Before arriving a trooper learned that Attinello left the property with her three children after an argument with someone at the home, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The troopers also learned that Attinello had an active warrant for her arrest out of Northampton County, the affidavit said.
The troopers confirmed that Attinello was seen on the Delaware Canal path with her children.
Troopers caught up with Attinello on the path north of the Riegelsville Inn near Delaware Road.
She confirmed her identity and told the officers that she was homeless and taking her children to a hotel.
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When troopers told her that she had an active warrant for her arrest, Attinello jumped off the ledge of the canal path into the Delaware River to avoid apprehension, the affidavit said.
“I’m not going back to jail,” she yelled before jumping, authorities said.
After landing in the river, arrest documents said that Attinello swam downriver until she was no longer visible.
The three children were secured by the troopers.After two hours, search operations for Attinello were called off. The next day authorities announced that Attinello had been found uninjured in Riegelsville and taken into custody.
Attinello faces misdemeanor charges of evading arrest and flight to avoid apprehension, though she has yet to be arraigned, according to the court docket.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Riegelsville woman who jumped into the Delaware trying to avoid jail
