Man Drowns After Allegedly Assaulting Girlfriend in Portland

A man drowned in Back Cove while allegedly fleeing from Portland Police.

It was just after 1:00 Sunday morning, when police were alerted to an alleged assault near the Miss Portland Diner. The alleged attacker then ran across the interstate and onto the Back Cove Running Path.

Police told WMTW-TV that when they spotted 25-year-old Eric Cohen of Portland, he jumped into the water, near the I-295 off-ramps. Cohen was rescued by a fire department rescue crew, after spending about 24 minutes in the water. He was treated at the scene and transported to Maine Medical Center, where he later died.

Officials say the victim was the Cohen's girlfriend. She and a witness, who tried to intervene, sustained non-life threatening injuries.