An Indiana man is facing multiple charges after police say he jumped a fence at an elementary school, fled into a river, escaped from a hospital, and resisted officers.
38-year-old Paul D. Lundy of Elkhart was arrested on Sept. 22 after officers said they responded to reports of a suspicious man looking through windows at Beardsley Elementary School.
According to the Elkhart Police Department, Lundy fled when officers tried to make contact with him, and he jumped into the St. Joseph River, where he tried to hide underneath a boat.
The situation took another turn when Lundy was taken to the hospital for medical treatment, and he ran yet again from the hospital with medical equipment still attached.
Into the River
Police initially responded at Beardsley Elementary School around 8:49 a.m. when they received a 911 call about a man who had jumped the fence and started looking into windows.
Officers say they tried to stop Lundy, but he ran into the St. Joseph River and hid underneath a boat.
Lundy was given several commands to leave the river before officers used pepper-ball chemical irritants. Police say they eventually pulled Lundy out of the river, where he continued resisting them.
The Elkhart Fire Department water rescue personnel and medics also arrived to help. Lundy was taken to a hospital afterward for evaluation.
Hospital Escape
When Lundy was taken to the hospital, officers determined he would need to stay there for an extended period because of pre-existing medical conditions he had.
Lundy was initially in custody at the hospital, but the department released him while they built a criminal case with the prosecutor’s office, according to police.
Then at 12:23 p.m., police were notified that Lundy fled Elkhart General Hospital while medical equipment was still attached to him.
Lundy was found by officers near South Highland Avenue and West Lexington Avenue. Police say Lundy refused to comply again, leading to the officers using a Taser and more chemical irritants to take him into custody.
Charges Filed
The prosecutor’s office filed formal charges against Lundy, including criminal trespass, two counts of resisting law enforcement, criminal vandalism, and public nudity.
Lundy was medically cleared and booked into the Elkhart County Jail on Sept. 23. Booking information shows his bond was set at $50,000, and his next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29 in Elkhart Superior Court 3.
He also has a parole violation hold listed in his booking information.
The Elkhart Police Department said the elementary school was placed on lockdown during the initial incident, but Lundy never entered the building. Officers also conducted a secondary sweep and found no weapons or immediate safety concerns.
Lundy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.