Father arrested after allegedly tossing daughter off bridge

A man in Florida was taken into custody after police say he threw his 5-year-old daughter off of a bridge into the Tampa Bay early Thursday morning.

According to FOX13, a St. Petersburg Police Officer witnessed the father identified as John Jonchuck, allegedly toss the child from over the railing of the Dick Misener Bridge, before fleeing the scene.

Minutes later, officers caught up with him and he was arrested.

Dive teams meanwhile, searched for the waters for young Phoebe Jonchuck. She was found and transported to a local hospital, but died a short time later.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that authorities are baffled as to why the 25-year-old father would throw the girl off the bridge.

"We have no idea why anybody would do something like this," said Yolanda Fernandez of the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Records show that Jonchuck was previously arrested for domestic violence and driving under the influence. He has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a law enforcement officer.

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