Wanted man arrested after LAPD pursuit ends in Pacific Ocean
LAPD officers tried to detain a man wanted on a felony warrant near PCH before he ran to Will Rogers State Beach and swam offshore, TMZ reports.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
A Los Angeles police stop turned into a beach chase Thursday morning when a man wanted on a felony warrant allegedly ran from officers, jumped into the Pacific Ocean and stayed offshore for more than an hour, according to TMZ.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ that LAPD officers stopped the man near Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard at about 7:20 a.m. after learning he was wanted on a felony warrant. The authorities have not disclosed what case or alleged offense the warrant involved.
TMZ reported it was not clear whether officers first approached the man while answering a radio call or as part of a pedestrian stop.
Chase moves from road to surf
When officers attempted to detain him, the man ran toward Will Rogers State Beach and entered the water, law enforcement sources told TMZ.
Video aired by Fox 11 Los Angeles showed the man swimming off the beach as Los Angeles County lifeguards moved in. The footage showed lifeguards in the water with him before he was placed on a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department boat.
TMZ reported that the man spent more than an hour in the ocean, hundreds of yards from shore. Lifeguards on rescue boards stayed nearby, spoke with him and waited for a chance to bring the situation to an end, according to the outlet.
The scene drew a multi-agency response involving LAPD, Los Angeles County lifeguards and the sheriff's department boat, based on the video and TMZ's account.
Warrant details still unknown
Authorities have not publicly identified the man in the report. TMZ also reported that officials have not revealed the nature of the felony warrant.
The available footage did not show what happened before officers first made contact with the man near Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard. TMZ reported only that LAPD officers stopped him after they learned he was wanted.
The pursuit ended in the water off Will Rogers State Beach, where lifeguards reached the man and he was taken onto the sheriff's department boat, according to the video and TMZ's law enforcement sources.
No injuries were reported in TMZ's account. The outlet did not report any statement from the man or from an attorney representing him.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.