Charles “Chuck” Bogan, 48, wasn’t expecting a 20-minute frenzy of activity when he jumped off the King Street Bridge Saturday — just a thrill.
Below the bridge, the water was swiftly moving southward. A few bystanders said they saw a man get out of an SUV and jump into the Neuse River at the south side of the bridge. That was about 5:45 p.m.
Following an all-out search by numerous emergency responders, Bogan was picked up around 6:05 p.m. by a Wildlife Resources Commission boat about 200 yards south of the bridge and was later charged with misdemeanor illegal jumping off a bridge, said Maj. Greg Thompson of Kinston Department of Public Safety.
“He jumped from the bridge as a result of a stunt or thrill,” Thompson said, adding jumping off a bridge is against state law.
As the search progressed, a crowd began to gather at the bridge — no one was sure why the man jumped or whether he was alive. The Neuse was much higher than usual with all the rain over the past weeks, making it a dangerous stunt.
“The water was very strong and it swept him down the river quickly,” Thompson said.
Bogan refused to go to the hospital, but was treated and released at the scene.
“He was very apologetic,” Thompson said.
Bogan repeatedly apologized on Facebook.
“I am profusely sorry for jumping,” he wrote. “It was a stunt with no intentions of involving police, fire, or rescue. I will and am going to Man-up and face the consequences. … It was a stunt gone bad, I thank the Kinston Police, Fire and Rescue for being there.”
A number of his Facebook friends responded, most of them saying they were glad he was OK.
“Chuck, we all make mistakes in life!” wrote Suzanne Moore. “Not one of us can say we are perfect or that we don't regret something! The main thing to remember is that you are alive and safe!!!! I’m proud of you for being a man about it, facing it head on, and dealing with it!!! None of us can judge or criticize you.”
Carolyn Lanier wrote, “Chuck, please don't pull a stunt like that again, your parents were worried to death, but of course we have all done things we shouldn't have done and we learn from our mistakes, Good luck and God Bless, life is too short for that kind of drama.”
His mother, Novella Bogan, wrote, “So happy you are alive, hope you do not try another stunt like this again. Love You!”
Chuck Bogan wrote briefly about his experience.
“Snakes, saw many, briers,” he said, “I'm ripped up pretty bad, but God, the dude looks out! Good man he is! Let's go to the beach!”
Michele Nix wrote a shower would be good for him now.
“Glad you're ok dude,” wrote Leslie Deaver. “We're gettin too old for those tricks. However I guess you won the dare. lol”
Brenda McGraw wrote, “I love ya brother. Glad you are safe. I am sure you had no idea of the commotion you were gonna cause. You are an awesome person!”
Several fire departments and their boats, Kinston Fire and Rescue, Lenoir County Emergency Management and Kinston Police responded to the scene.
Bogan, from Kinston but living in Raleigh, was placed under an $8,000 bond and released on bail.
Jeanne Ezzell seemed to have written tongue-in-cheek on Facebook that a benefit might be in order to help him pay for his fines and court costs.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.