UPDATE on man who did not want to be rescued from Mississippi at 4 a.m. Wed. morning

The 37 year old is charged with disorderly for, apparently, going swimming.

UPDATE: The man found swimming in the Mississippi near Houska Park early Wednesday morning is facing a disorderly conduct charge. 

Onalaska, Wis., native Jason Cooper is in jail right now and could appear in La Crosse County court Thursday.

A call came in around 4 a.m. Wednesday there was a guy in the Mississippi River south of the Cass St. bridge in La Crosse.

The guy, however, wasn’t drowning or in trouble. Apparently, the 37-year-old Cooper was just out for an early morning swim – using a piece of plastic drain tile, that police later determined may have been stolen.

But, when rescue boats came to get Cooper out of the water, he refused.

Cooper was met by police when he ended his swim at the Pettibone Boat Club, also charged with theft and bail-jumping. 

Cooper already has a few active cases in La Crosse County court, on misdemeanor and traffic charges.