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A dramatic pursuit unfolded in Florida when a man attempting to evade police jumped into a river, only to be captured by officers on paddleboards.
The incident took place on March 16 when Florida police approached Chase Cruz regarding alleged trespassing at a vacant property. Cruz, rather than cooperating, took off on foot, as detailed in an arrest affidavit obtained by Oxygen. He dashed through several backyards until he reached the banks of the Halifax River.
While one officer pursued him on land, two others quickly commandeered surfboards from Volusia County Beach Safety and paddled out to intercept him, according to the affidavit.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office shared dramatic footage on Instagram, capturing the moment officers surrounded Cruz in the water. The video showed him floating with his arms extended in a gesture of surrender.
Before being secured to a paddleboard and brought back to shore, Cruz reportedly pleaded with the officers, saying, “Don’t hurt me,” as noted in the affidavit.
Chase was booked into the Volusia County Division of Corrections and charged with loitering or prowling and obstructing an officer without violence. He was released on March 29.
The 28-year-old acknowledged that he was wrong, police noted in the doc, and “agreed to accept the consequences of his actions.” Chase formally pleaded no contest, according to court records viewed by Oxygen, and he was sentenced to 15 days in jail (with credit for five days served) and 15 hours of community service.
Chase alleged he is homeless and had been sleeping in his car at the vacant residence for two days, per the affidavit, adding that a neighbor assured him that he wouldn’t be bothered there. Chase said, per the affidavit, that he ran because he is afraid of the police.
An attorney for Chase did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Oxygen.