Austin police arrested a 31-year-old man accused of breaking into the Old Mill Restaurant Sunday after a boat chase down the Cedar River.

Police Capt. Dave McKichan said an employee at the restaurant at 3405 11th Place NE was giving a relative a tour of the business at about 5 p.m. Sunday when he spotted a man in the basement.

The suspect fled the restaurant down a path to the Cedar River where another man waited with kayaks, according to McKichan. The pair traveled west and south down the Cedar River.

Police were able to get one of the men to row ashore, but that man allegedly knew nothing about the burglary or why the pair was at the Old Mill. The Austin Fire Department brought a boat to the river, which officers used to apprehend the suspect after a chase down the river.

McKichan said the suspect had cleaning supplies and lighters in his kayak that were taken from the restaurant. In addition, more cleaning supplies were found between the restaurant and the river.

The Austin man was taken to the Mower County jail pending theft and burglary charges.