WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- Wilmington Police cited a Camp Lejeune Marine last week for jumping into and swimming across the Cape Fear River.
A police department spokeswoman says officers responded around 1:49 a.m. Friday to a call about someone jumping into the river in the 100 block of Water Street downtown. An officer spotted the man swimming toward the Battleship North Carolina on the other side of the river.
Police called in the Wilmington Fire Department and the SABLE helicopter to help. A New Hanover County Sheriff's deputy responded to the Battleship, where he found Matthew John Miller, 21. Police cited him for violating a city ordinance against swimming in the river due to it strong, unpredictable currents.
Police say Miller is a Marine and Camp Lejeune.
LCpl. John J. Pruitt of California drowned in April 2012 after jumping or falling into the river.
Investigators say Joanne Dacuno of Greenville was drunk when she drowned the river in July 2010.
