Pursuit suspect attempts to swim away from authorities
In a surprising twist on an oceanfront drama, a man wanted on a felony charge spent an intense 90 minutes bobbing in the Pacific waters off Will Rogers State Beach. Los Angeles County lifeguards eventually encircled him, successfully ending the unusual sea chase. (Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles)
On Thursday, a man sought for felony charges attempted a daring aquatic escape from law enforcement, taking to the Pacific Ocean for an hour and a half before lifeguards managed to catch up with him and conclude his odd sea-bound flight.
As reported by KTLA, the sea-side scene unfolded just after daybreak at 7:21 a.m., when LAPD’s West LA Division officers tried to approach the suspect near the bustling Pacific Coast Highway and the iconic Sunset Boulevard.
Faced with apprehension, the man reportedly took flight, sprinting past a lifeguard station and plunging into the chilly waters of Will Rogers State Beach to evade capture.
As the oceanic pursuit concluded, a suspect with a felony warrant appeared to resist capture while Los Angeles County lifeguards finalized his arrest amidst the sparkling Pacific waves—a fittingly strange end to his attempted escape. (Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles)
Video captured by SkyFOX shows the suspect, who appeared to struggle against three LA County lifeguards as they worked to restrain him before guiding him toward a waiting LA County Sheriff’s Department boat.
The video shows the man continuing to resist as he was brought alongside the vessel, where officers and lifeguards ultimately pulled him aboard and took him into custody.
KTLA reported the suspect remained hundreds of yards offshore as lifeguards on rescue boards stayed nearby, monitoring his condition and attempting to talk with him while a sheriff’s department boat and a county lifeguard rescue boat positioned themselves offshore.
Los Angeles County lifeguards restrain a felony warrant suspect in the Pacific Ocean after he allegedly tried to evade LAPD by swimming offshore near Will Rogers State Beach. (FOX 11 Los Angeles)
According to the outlet, the suspect at one point swam toward shore near Temescal Canyon before abruptly turning back into deeper water, prompting lifeguards to move in and end the standoff.
FOX 11 reported the suspect swam about a mile during the nearly 90-minute ordeal and appeared to be nude from the waist down.
Los Angeles County lifeguards and deputies pull a felony warrant suspect toward a sheriff’s boat after a lengthy standoff in the Pacific Ocean off Will Rogers State Beach. (FOX 11 Los Angeles)
It was not immediately clear what prompted officers to initially contact the suspect or what felony warrant he was wanted on.
His identity, condition and any additional charges were not immediately released.
News Media has reached out to the LAPD for additional information.