WHEELING — Court proceedings for a robbery suspect who allegedly tried to escape police by jumping into the Ohio River earlier this year have been delayed.

According to court officials, Dwayne Conaway Jr., 24, has waived his right to a preliminary hearing on a felony robbery charge. A pretrial hearing on a misdemeanor fleeing from an officer charge was continued Monday because Conaway’s lawyer was absent for the proceedings.

Conaway was arrested after police said he tried to flee a traffic stop on Wheeling Island on Oct. 19 by jumping into the Ohio River. He found a Bridgeport police officer waiting for him on the other side.

A warrant for Conaway’s arrest had been issued earlier that same day in connection with an attempted robbery at the Smith Oil gas station at 1805 Warwood Ave. in Wheeling at about 8:40 p.m. Oct. 15.

Conaway was charged with robbery after an employee of the gas station identified him as the suspect. Officers also obtained video footage of the suspect at the scene.

Wheeling police later arrested an alleged accomplice in the attempted robbery. Charles Szerszen, 30, of Wheeling, has been charged with conspiracy and accessory before the fact to first-degree robbery.

According to a criminal complaint, an employee of Smith Oil saw Szerszen walking across the store parking lot and through the gas pumps 10 minutes before the robbery attempt. Conaway told investigators that Szerszen revealed information about video surveillance at the business, and that the two agreed to split any money obtained in the robbery, according to the complaint.

Conaway is being held at the Northern Regional Jail on $55,000 bond. Szerszen was released after posting bond.

A new date for Conaway’s preliminary hearing have not been set.