A Tamaqua man jumped off the Cedar Street bridge and landed in the Little Schuylkill River following a fight that began around 2 a.m. June 25 at a bar in the 200 block of Cedar Street, borough police said.

Christopher Ebersole, 44, was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries. He and the man he fought with, Jeremiah Cruz, 41, of Tamaqua, are facing similar charges, police said.

According to police, officers responded to a fight in progress and found state police had arrived and were requesting additional response.

Tamaqua police said state police were standing on the Cedar Street bridge and attempting to talk to Ebersole, who had jumped. Police said Ebersole was bleeding heavily from his head and would not listen to law enforcement. He eventually swam through debris to the west bank of the river, police said.

Police dispatched the Tamaqua Ambulance and fire department for assistance. West Penn Township police also arrived.

Tamaqua ambulance personnel retrieved Ebersole from the water and placed him in the back of an ambulance. Police said Ebersole became combative with ambulance personnel.

Officers attempted to place handcuffs on Ebersole, and when he resisted, officers deployed a stun gun. He was eventually cuffed and taken to St. Luke’s-Miners in Coaldale, where he was sedated by staff.

Police later contacted the hospital and learned that Ebersole’s bleeding was caused by a slash to his head.

Officers also spoke to a bartender who said the fight began between Ebersole and Cruz. Others became involved and someone struck Ebersole with a glass bottle, the bartender said.

According to police, Cruz was sitting on a sidewalk outside the bar and refused medical treatment but he acknowledged the fight.

Police charged Cruz and Ebersole with public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and harassment.