Man assaults paramedic, jumps into Oklahoma river

A man accused of assaulting a paramedic in an ambulance and jumping into the Oklahoma river was arrested Thursday morning.

Firefighters, a dive team and law officers tried to find the man after he jumped from the Interstate 40 bridge into the Oklahoma River near Interstate 35 about 10:15 a.m.

Eugene David Overton, 43, was captured about 10:50 a.m. on NE 4 between I-35 and Bryant Avenue, said Capt. Jody Suit, Del City police spokesman.

An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper spotted Overton hiding in a clump of trees on NE 4 and arrested him. Overton appeared to have a broken right arm, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

While en route to OU Medical Center, Overton assaulted paramedic Rick Huston in the back of the ambulance, said Larry Terry, director of Midwest Regional Emergency Medical Services.

Huston was struck several times by Overton as the driver of the ambulance pulled over for safety, Terry said.

NewsOK photographer Paul Southerland was at the scene when authorities caught up with Overton. Watch the video above and see more photos in Friday’s print edition of The Oklahoman.

Photo by Paul Southerland: Eugene David Overton is silhouetted between law enforcement officers after he was caught in high brush along NE 4 Street just west of Bryant Ave. in Oklahoma City Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011.

Thank you for joining our conversation on NewsOK Now. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.