Search continues for Monroe man who fled from police

A Monroe man with a pattern of eluding law enforcement by swimming to freedom hasn't been seen since May 24, when he again fled from sheriff's deputies and into the confluence of the Sultan and Skykomish rivers.

Brandon "BubbaGÇ¥ Perecz, 28, was wanted on several outstanding warrants and suspicion of burglary when an East Precinct detective with the Snohomish County Sheriff's detective attempted to take Perecz into custody on May 24, according to Shari Ireton, sheriff's office communications director.

Perecz allegedly rode his bicycle under a bridge at the confluence of the Sultan and Skykomish rivers, took off his helmet and jumped into the river to avoid being taken into custody, according to Ireton. He was last seen swimming several hundred yard downstream, near the shore of the river.

According to the sheriff's office, Perecz had jumped into the river to escape a K9 officer in 2010, and again in September 2015, where he was seen exiting the river on the other side. Perecz did the same thing earlier in 2016 on a Sultan case.

Percz was reported missing on May 27, and the sheriff's office deployed a helicopter back to the river to search for him, as well as search and rescue unit and dive team. The sheriff's office reports at least two more attempts to locate Perecz using a helicopter and a missing person investigation is active with Major Crimes detectives.

"We can't verify that he is deceased,GÇ¥ Ireton told the Monitor, "so the first priority is obviously to establish that he's alive and well, and second would be take him into custody.GÇ¥

Perecz is facing a residential burglary charge stemming from a 2013 investigation by the Monroe Police Department and sheriff's office. He allegedly burglarized a home in the 19000 block of 87th Place Southeast in Snohomish, stealing three wallets and later using a credit card belonging to the victim at the Monroe Fred Meyer.

According to other media reports, Perecz's fiancee, Michaela Anderson, gave birth to his son the day after he went missing. Washington's Most Wanted reports Anderson said Perecz had intended to turn himself in following the birth of his child.

Anyone who knows anything about Perecz's whereabouts or sees him is asked to call 425-407-3999.

Attempts to reach Perecz's family about their ongoing search for the missing Monroe man were unsuccessful as of press time.