Deputies: Liquor thief drowned after jumping into frigid river to avoid police

LEAVENWORTH -- A 28-year-old man who jumped into the Wenatchee River Friday to avoid police after he was allegedly spotted shoplifting two bottles of liquor from a grocery store is presumed dead,  the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said.

Alen Bolic, 28, has not been seen since entering the river at the mouth of the Tumwater Canyon Friday afternoon. Swift water rescue teams and a sheriff's office helicopter were not able to locate Bolic, and he is presumed drowned after entering the very cold river.

According to sheriff's deputies, Bolic was captured on video Monday stealing two bottles of liquor from a Leavenworth grocery store. He was spotted around 1:20 p.m. Friday walking along Highway 2 in downtown Leavenworth and deputies attempted to make contact with him.

Seeing the deputies, Bolic allegedly fled toward Black Bird Island and then was seen on a park trail near Enchantment Park. He was told to stop by deputies, authorities said, but instead jumped into the Wenatchee River. He tried to swim across the river, deputies said, but was swept downstream.

He was told to stop by deputies, authorities said, but instead jumped into the Wenatchee River. He tried to swim across the river but was swept downstream.

At one point, he was spotted by police grasping a large boulder in the river, but he lost his grip and floated toward a section of rapids.

That was the last time he was seen, deputies said.

Bolic, who deputies said was homeless, had lived around Leavenworth for about a month and was also a person of interest in a malicious mischief incident.