Police: Man Jumps Into River to Avoid Arrest After Beating Girlfriend

Police said a man who severely beat his girlfriend jumped into a river to avoid getting arrested. Officials said Joseph Boots jumped into the Connoquenessing River to avoid being arrested after he got into a fight with his girlfriend early Friday and beat her. According to a criminal complaint, Boots’ girlfriend said that “He held her down and punched the left side of the face” and she “lost consciousness during the assault.” Police said Boots ran when they tried to arrest him, and a police K-9 found him. Officers and firefighters had to work to get Boots out of the river because of how cold the water was. Boots was treated at a hospital, arrested and taken to the Beaver County Jail. His girlfriend was transferred to Allegheny General Hospital with multiple broken bones and a concussion.