Hollister man drowns while trying to avoid arrest

A Hollister man drowned 3:15 a.m. today as he jumped into Lake Taneycomo at the 13-mile mark while trying to avoid being arrested by a Taney County deputy.

The events leading to the death of Tyler R. Jones, 26, Hollister, were detailed in a news release from the Taney County Sheriff's Office.

From Ozarksfirst.com's report:

Around 3 a.m., a Taney County deputy attempted to stop a sport bike motorcycle in Hollister.

According to Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell, the driver “refused to stop and went northbound through the roundabout onto East Mo. 76, then turned left onto Lake Shore Dr. “

The driver then set the bike down and ran until he jumped over the guard rail and went down the embankment to Lake Taneycomo.

The deputy called Western Taney County Water Rescue and an ambulance, but Jones drowned.

Online Taney County Circuit Court records indicate Jones was already facing a felony charge of resisting arrest in connection with a July 25 Highway Patrol stop and had been released on his own recognizance Wednesday.

According to the Highsay Patrol report, Taney County Deputy Coroner Brian Koppitz pronounced Jones dead at the scene at 4 a.m.

The drowning was the seventh this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.