By LORETTA TACKETT

Editor

REGINA, Ky. — Police are investigating the death of a man who allegedly fled from the scene of a burglary and drowned in the Big Sandy River at Regina.

Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 9 issued a press release last night regarding the death investigation of Walter C. Holbrooks, 37, of Bowling Fork Road, Rockhouse, Ky.

The death stems from a chase which began with a burglary in progress call from Elkhorn City. Post 9 dispatched an Elkhorn City Police Department officer and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer Keith Justice to the scene. While in route, the press release said, Justice was radioed the suspect at the burglary scene fled driving a white van, which Justice located in the Yellow Hill area of Pike County. When Justice attempted to stop the van, Holbrooks stopped the vehicle, but fled on foot.

Justice told KSP officers Holbrooks ignored numerous requests to stop and jumped into the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. Justice saw Holbrooks drop below the surface of the water and never resurface, the release said.

Millard East Shelbiana Volunteer Fire and Rescue Inc., and Elkhorn City Ambulance were immediately dispatched to the scene and rescue officials located Holbrooks body at approximately 4:52 p.m., the release says.

It took the rescue team about 35 minutes to find Holbrooks, Millard East Shelbiana Chief Adkins said, adding he was about 25 feet from the bank and in 9 to 10 feet of water. Holbrooks appeared to be in good physical condition, Adkins said.

Pike County Deputy Coroner Denver Bailey of Bailey Funeral Home pronounced Holbrooks dead at 5:20 p.m., and assumes he drowned as everything indicates this is the cause of death, Bailey said. However, Bailey said he could not give an official statement regarding cause of death until he has the results of a post-mortem study, which is standard procedure in cases such as this.

Detectives Jason Merlo and Gary Sykes will be conducting the death investigation for the KSP, Post 9 reported. Neither had returned a call to the Daily News at press time.

Assisting KSP at the scene of the fatality were representatives of Elkhorn City Police Department, Elkhorn City Ambulance Service and Millard Fire Department.