A suspect fled into an icy river and then pleaded with police to rescue him, turning a routine arrest into a dramatic rescue operation.

The fugitive wanted on a domestic violence warrant reportedly ran from Durango Police and jumped into the freezing waters of Colorado on May 16.

Authorities said the foot chase began when officers attempted to make contact with the suspect. He fled on foot and leapt into the river in a desperate attempt to escape, struggling in the water and nearly drowning.

The suspect then cried for help.

The Durango Police said: 'When someone has a warrant, we don't get to walk away. We are required to act. Accountability doesn't disappear when someone doesn't want to face it. When they make choices like going into a free-flowing river, we follow their lead.

'In that moment, when the river swept him – our job shifted, he wasn't just someone attempting to run away from the law, he was someone drowning. He called out for help, and our officers made the call that mattered – get him out first, sort the rest out later.

Bodycam footage shows officers rescuing the suspect at approximately 8:46 pm. He was later seen being escorted to a vehicle.

The police force added: 'This situation is a reminder of the balance we carry every day. Yes, we enforce the law, but we protect lives and sometimes – most times – we are doing both at once.'