A Vicksburg man wanted on a warrant for a state probation violation ran into the Yazoo River Diversion Canal Tuesday morning in an attempt to eluded authorities.

John Hart, 28, 1215 Adams St., was arrested Tuesday and was held in the Warren County jail on a probation violation charge, according to Warren County jail records.

Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, VPD officer Donnie Heggins and his companion, K9 officer Thor, executed a traffic stop of a vehicle on Washington Street just north of First East Street when Hart jumped from the vehicle and ran toward the Yazoo River Diversion Canal, Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said.

“He jumped in the river to avoid capture,” he said.

K9 officer Thor tracked Hart through the marsh between Washington Street and the canal, into the canal and 10 feet up a willow tree, Pace said. Hart was found clinging to the tree at the edge of the water wearing only jeans and socks, he said.

“The sheriff’s office launched a patrol boat,” Pace said. “Undersheriff Jeff Riggs and deputy Jason Bailess took Hart into custody.”

Vicksburg police officers, Warren County deputies and Constable Glenn McKay were all on the scene. Paramedics met officers at the boat landing and, under guard, took Hart to Merit Health River Region Medical Center for possible hypothermia.

Any further charges would be the decision of Mississippi Department of Corrections probation officers and the district attorney’s office, Pace said.

Two probation officers from the Mississippi Department of Corrections had attempted to arrest Hart at his Vicksburg home Monday for a state probation violation, Pace said. As he was being handcuffed, Hart broke away and ran, he said.

Hart’s wife, Cheyenne Emery-Hart, 23, 1215 Adams St., was also held in the Warren County Jail Tuesday on a warrant from the Mississippi Department of Corrections for probation violation, according to Warren County jail records.