Jumper from Dillingham Street Bridge charged with reckless conduct

A Phenix City man accused of jumping from the Dillingham Street Bridge on Wednesday faces a reckless conduct charge an other violations, Columbus police said.

Warren Williams, 33, also was charged with obstruction of law enforcement officers and not using required personal flotation devices while in the Chattahoochee River.

More than a dozen police and rescue personnel from the Columbus Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services were called to the river after Williams jumped into the fast moving current about 4:28 p.m. As he floated past the Columbus Convention & Trade Center and Civic Center, he disregarded officers commands to get out of the water.

For about an hour, he shouted at officers and sometimes refused to use a flotation device tossed from the rescue boats. Near Rotary Park, two officers jumped into the river and took Williams into custody about 5:30 p.m.

He was first taken to Midtown Medical Center for a mental evaluation before he was charged.

This story was originally published June 20, 2015 at 3:24 PM with the headline "Jumper from Dillingham Street Bridge charged with reckless conduct."