Drunk camper falls into ditch

A dispute among intoxicated Marion Reservoir campers early Saturday led to an hour-long search of the Cottonwood Point area for a man who had fallen into a ditch after defying authorities to find him.

Sheriff Rob Craft said officers were called after Armando Martinez, 37, got into a dispute with his girlfriend. The pair were on a camping trip with two companions at the time. Martinez left the campsite on foot shortly before 4 a.m.

Sheriff’s deputies and Hillsboro police went to locate Martinez.

“We spent some time looking for him,” Craft said.

Officers on the scene said Martinez had sent text messages vowing that the officers would never find him. He later texted that he had fallen in a ditch and didn’t know where he was.

Craft said the man declined medical treatment for his injuries and was not arrested because no physical altercation had taken place. All four of the campers were intoxicated, Craft said.