Police: On verge of arrest, man jumps off Westmoreland Bridge

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Police say a man wanted on grand larceny charges jumped off the General William B. Westmoreland Bridge before officers could arrest him Wednesday morning.

The Charleston Police Department says 32-year-old Corey Wyland was on the side of the Westmoreland bridge next to a stalled Ford truck at 8:15 a.m. when an officer with the Charleston Police Department pulled up and asked what he was doing. Wyland claimed his truck ran out of gas.

According to an incident report, police ran a records check on Wyland and discovered there was a warrant out for his arrest by the Mt. Pleasant Police Department for grand larceny.

During the time Wyland was on the bridge, investigators were already at his home in West Ashley executing a search warrant.

As the responding officer went to speak to Wyland, "he pushed himself off the side of the bridge," falling into the Ashley River, police say.

A boat was sent to pick up Wyland, who was spotted swimming in the Ashley River. He was then taken to MUSC. Charleston Police Department spokesman Charles Francis said Wyland would be fine.

The incident caused major delays in the eastbound lanes of I-526 and also caused some westbound delays as well.

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