PORTSMOUTH, Va. — UPDATE: Authorities said parts of the West Norfolk Bridge in Portsmouth were shut down Tuesday morning as they worked to find a person involved in a police chase.
Portsmouth police said they were led on a vehicle pursuit around 4:52 a.m. near the 3100 block of Deep Creek Blvd. That's near the intersection with Frederick Boulevard.
According to officers, the involved vehicle crashed just before 5:30 a.m. and two men were taken into custody.
There was a third person, the driver, who police said jumped over the bridge and fled the scene. The department is now looking for 26-year-old Alex Tew, who they say swam to shore and might have run into the Bayview area.
Amy Griffin, who lives near the Bayview area, said she walks near the West Norfolk Bridge all the time.
"I come in here once or twice a day and I just walk both sides of the bridge," Griffin said.
It's a peaceful start to her morning.
"I just love it," she said. "And sometimes I'll just sit over here. It's just my quiet place."
This morning was far from calm after a police chase ended on the bridge and Tew jumped into the water. A few boats circled under the bridge hoping to find him all morning. Authorities even patrolled by land nearby Bayview Boulevard.
Griffin said it's a scary scene to see on her walk.
"It is very frightening and there are a lot of people who walk their dogs out here," she said. "We have kids, we have parks."
Other neighbors who lived by the bridge didn't want to speak on camera. They told 13News Now off camera they are concerned for their safety knowing the suspect could be close by.
He's wanted for a felony probation violation in Chesapeake, domestic assault in Suffolk, and stolen vehicle warrants in Portsmouth.
On Thursday afternoon, the Portsmouth Police Department said Tew has warrants for charges of carjacking, two counts of abduction, felony eluding, three counts of grand larceny, obstruction of justice, and driving while revoked.
The department also said investigators have recovered four stolen motorcycles, a stolen van and a stolen trailer.
If you have any information or know of Tew's whereabouts, you're asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
Author's Note: The video below is on file from Oct. 1, 2021.