News Release-Man in Custody After Looking in School Windows, Jumping in River, 9.22.26

News Release-Man in Custody After Looking in School Windows, Jumping in River, 9.22.26

A 38-year-old man is in custody after looking in school windows and jumping in the river to evade Elkhart Police Department officers.

Today, September 22, 2026, at approximately 8:49 a.m., the Elkhart City 911 Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a suspicious male subject that had jumped a perimeter fence and was looking in windows at Beardsley Elementary School (1027 McPherson St, Elkhart). Elkhart City Police Department officers dispatched to the area and arrived shortly thereafter. Officers attempted to make contact with the male subject, who fled on foot. During the foot pursuit, the suspect jumped into the St. Joseph River in the 900 block of E. Beardsley Ave and hid under a boat. EPD officers gave several commands for the suspect to exit the river before deploying pepper ball chemical irritants to try and gain his compliance. Officers were able to pull him out of the water, where he further resisted being detained.

Elkhart Fire Department Water Rescue and medics were also on the scene and provided assistance. Medics evaluated the suspect at the scene and took him to the hospital for medical clearance, where he remains in custody on preliminary charges in connection with this incident. We will release the suspect’s name if and when an Elkhart County judicial officer finds probable cause for this arrest. No other injuries were reported during this incident.

EPD officers worked closely with the school and ECS security personnel during this investigation. The school was placed on lockdown during the incident, and the male subject did not make entry into the school. Out of an abundance of caution, officers made a secondary sweep of the school area and did not locate any weapons or anything of immediate safety concern. There is believed to be no further threat to the public.

Please be advised that under Indiana law an individual is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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