Bodycam Shows Police Rescue Man From River With Helicopter

Mesa police announced Monday that they had used a helicopter to rescue a homeless man from the Salt River bottom after he found himself stranded due to rushing water. Last Thursday evening, a citizen reported to police that they'd heard calls for help coming from the river bottom just north of Sloan Park, according to a release from Mesa police. Heavy rain earlier in the week had created a buildup of water that was released into the Salt River Thursday. Officers found the man, who had been living in the river bottom, on some debris near the north side of the river bottom, according to Mesa PD. He said he had used a makeshift raft to retrieve some of his belongings after the water rushed though, but he had been swept downstream.