Caught on Camera: Man jumps off of Edison Bridge to escape LCSO deputies

A man dove into the Caloosahatchee River to get away from Lee County Sheriff’s deputies.

Deputies were attempting to pull over Bryan Gray, 34, for driving a stolen van. He sped off and crashed the van before jumping off of the Edison Bridge into the Caloosahatchee River.

“What is falling out of that rig?” Timothy Dillo, of Seattle, said he asked when he witnessed Gray’s jump. “Tough to make that arrest.”

Other Fort Myers residents agree this was a dangerous act.

“That was reckless,” said John Scherer. “You can’t teach dumb or stupid. They’re natural-born abilities.”

“He could’ve killed a lot of people,” said Donna Avilla.

After he crashed the van, Gray ran from deputies and headed straight for the edge of the bridge. Before anyone could catch him, he jumped.

Gray swam through the Caloosahatchee River until deputies called in the Fort Myers Police Department’s Marine Unit to set up a perimeter, shifting their pursuit from land to water.

“A lot of cop cars for one guy,” said Karl Schmidt, of Ohio.

Luckily, deputies and FMPD officers were able to pull Gray out of the water and onto one of their boats near one of the bridge’s supports. He was then taken into custody.

“It’s a lot for them to talk on break time about,” said Scherer.

Gray could face multiple charges including grand theft auto and fleeing and eluding.