According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Michael Poland, 18, of Fairbanks, and some friends of his were horsing around on a still-frozen portion of the Chena River when a large floe broke free with Poland on it. His friends tossed him a milk crate to sit on, and a makeshift paddle, and he floated about a half-mile, from near Graehl Park to the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Fire crews responded and took a boat out to rescue him. He was arrested upon reaching shore for, in the News-Miner's paraphrase, "disorderly conduct for creating a hazardous condition for the Fire Department members who rescued him." Poland spent a night in jail, and didn't fight the charges because he didn't want to spend any more time in stir. But he maintains he was never in any danger and could've gotten himself to shore whenever he wanted. Read the initial report, here, and the post-sentencing follow-up with Poland, here.