ELYRIA — Police responding to reports of a man causing problems at a bar wound up in a foot chase overnight and had to call in the Fire Department after the fleeing man wound up in the Black River.

Elyria police were called to Ely’s Inn, 45 East Ave., about 12:30 a.m. for a report of a man sitting at the bar exposing himself to other patrons.

Before police arrived the man had walked out of the bar, and he took off as police approached.

The man, later determined to be Andre Patton, 19, of Elyria, ran north on East Avenue toward Bill Baker’s Appliance, where he disappeared, according to a dispatch narrative of the incident.

As officers searched the area, they “heard a loud splash and could observe large swirls going across the Black River.”

Officers searched the river and bank from both sides for about 10 minutes when they saw the man get out of the river and continue to run north on the riverbank about 50 feet before again falling into the river.

The Fire Department had been called in to light the river from the Washington Avenue bridge when the man again emerged from the river shivering. As firefighters were attempting to get a rope to him to help him up the steep riverbank, officers managed to help him grab trees and other objects and then pull him the rest of the way to the top of the bank.

Patten was taken to the Elyria police station and then to the Lorain County Jail, where is being held on $3,250 bond.

He is charged with resisting arrest and obstructing official business and was to appear in Elyria Municipal Court this morning. Officers speaking with patrons at Ely’s Inn were told Patten had also been waving a gun at patrons outside the bar.