A man with a felony warrant fleeing from deputies drowned after he drove into the St. Croix River on Thursday night, according to the Chisago County sheriff’s office.

Chisago County Water Patrol deputies located the man’s body Friday morning about one-eighth of a mile downstream from where he entered the water. The man was identified as Matthew A. Norman, 55, of Rush City, in a press release Friday.

Shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday, Chisago County deputies attempted to pull over Norman, who they say had an outstanding Chisago County felony warrant.

He didn’t stop and instead drove into the St. Croix River using the boat ramp at the Railroad Landing river access east of Rush City, the release said.

As deputies watched, he climbed out of his vehicle and began swimming away until deputies lost sight of him.

Chisago County sheriff personnel conducted extensive water, ground and air searches into the night assisted by the U.S. National Park Service, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Almelund Fire Department, the Lindstrom Fire Department, the Chisago City Fire Department, the Stacy Fire Department and the Midwest
Medical Examiner’s Office.

Norman’s body was recovered at 9:30 a.m. Friday, according to the Chisago County sheriff’s office.