Two boaties helped police retrieve an Alexandra man from the Clutha River on Saturday night after he tried to escape from the town's police station.
The 18-year-old man, whose name was not released by police, was being dealt with for a driving related matter at the station about 6.45pm, when he ran away.
He scaled the station yard fence, ran towards the Alexandra bridge and jumped off the bridge into the river.
Sergeant Bruce Martin, of the Rural Drink-Drive Group, said the man was quickly carried downstream.
Two boat owners helped police as they chased the man down the river.
The man resisted all attempts by police to pull him to safety and was in the cold water for about 20 minutes until the current carried him to a tree-lined river bank, where he got into difficulty and was eventually grabbed by police.
He received medical attention back at the police station and did not seem to have any lasting injuries.
The man was held in custody and is due to appear in the Dunedin District Court today facing several charges, Sgt Martin said.
Alexandra police recovered a stolen vehicle in the town on Friday night.
The vehicle, reported stolen from Christchurch, was found with the alleged offender.
