SACRAMENTO—The organizer of Rafting Gone Wild was arrested on Saturday, July 23, 2016, after trying to evade police last month during the event by jumping off a bridge and floating away.
Sammy Diaz, who allegedly organized the rafting event, had not obtained a permit. When an officer tried to give him a citation, he jumped off the American River Bridge. He was later taken into custody on an arrest warrant for two misdemeanor charges at the Lower Sunrise Recreational Area, next to the river access, according Sacramento County Regional Parks officials.
On Saturday, Diaz told the media that he was the one in charge of the event. Then he later said that this was not the case.
“I told them I didn’t organize it because I didn’t organize, everyone (there) organized their own event to meet up (there). That’s what so funny about it,” Diaz said.
Diaz was booked into Sacramento County Main Jail on Saturday on two outstanding warrants—a misdeameanor charge of resisting or obstructing a peace officer, and a misdeameanor charge of illegally jumping from a bridge.
He was held on $5,000 bail and was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, July 26, 2016.
“The sole focus, it appears, is less about rafting and more about getting intoxicated,” said Sacramento County Chief Ranger Michael Doane. “Alcohol can and will be snuck in, as was evident Saturday.”
At this event, six other individuals were also arrested—three on suspicion of public intoxication, one for drunken driving, one on an outstanding warrant, and one on suspicion of battery of a police officer.
Sacramento County prohibits the consumption of alcohol on the river during the event.
Last year, 15 people were arrested at this event. That was considerably lower than in 2012 when 32 people were arrested.
