Man swims river to evade police

A man who evaded police by swimming across a South Island river could face charges and the loss of his firearms licence.

The 50-year-old man from Temuka, South Canterbury, gave police the slip after they tried to stop his car near Bruce Bay, south of the Fox Glacier, at about 1am yesterday morning.

The man stopped his car in a driveway and tried to avoid detection by switching the headlights off, but police spotted the brake lights.

The man left the keys in the ignition and ran from the car. He then dived into the nearby Jacobs River, swam to the other side and lay in hiding.

Police searched the area and called for the man to surrender with a loudhailer, but could not find him.

Police seized a loaded high-powered rifle, a .22 rifle and ammunition found in the car.

The man later contacted police.

He could face charges and have his firearms licence revoked, police said.

- NZPA