DRUNK WOMAN STRIPS DOWN, SWIMS ACROSS TENNESSEE RIVER AT MIDNIGHT, JAILED

knoxnightA woman was taken into police custody early Tuesday morning after jumping into the Tennessee River and taking a swim.

The Knoxville Police Department says it happened around midnight.

Officers say they first responded to the 500 block of Neyland Drive for a possible drowning. A caller told officials a drunk female took off her clothes down to her underwear and bra, jumped into the water and swam to the south side of the river.

KPD says 23-year-old Evelyn Radford left her clothes with her boyfriend at Volunteer Landing, but he left that area. Witnesses told police Radford and her boyfriend had been fighting before she jumped into the river.

The Knoxville Fire Department and Knoxville Rescue Squad both responded to scene with boats and searched for Radford.

Officers say they then found a male on the south end of the Gay Street bridge who initially acted like he had no idea why emergency responders were in the area. Officers then saw Radford under the bridge swimming towards Holston Gases.

Radford was taken into custody on the beach for disorderly conduct and public intoxication.