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BWC: Suspect suddenly leaps from bridge in attempt to escape Fla. officers

The suspect was rescued and arrested by Daytona Beach Police officers in a boat, video shows

By Joanna Putman
Police1

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A Florida man accused of robbery was detained after jumping into a river to evade arrest, as shown in body camera footage released by the Daytona Beach Police Department.

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The video captures a police officer arriving at a bridge over the river and approaching a 32-year-old suspect. Officers instructed the suspect to stop and sit down so that they could gather information from him.

Moments after briefly sitting on the bridge rail, the suspect turns around and jumps into the river. An officer can be heard saying, “He’s in the water.”

Body camera footage later shows the suspect swimming to a Daytona Beach police boat, where officers help him onboard. He is then escorted off the boat wearing a life vest and handcuffs.

“Lesson of the day: Trying to swim away from your problems will only land you in deep water—and a wet jail cell!” the department said in a social media post.