By Joanna Putman
Police1
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has released body camera video of a standoff with an armed teen who ran into the Atlantic Ocean, NBC News reported.
Video shows officers monitoring a fight that started on the beach. As the fight seemed to die down, a 16-year-old pulled a gun from his bag and waved it toward the person he had been fighting with.
As deputies saw the handgun, they ran toward the teen, instructing him to drop the gun and warning other people to back away, video shows. The teen continued to run down the beach, eventually venturing out into the water.
Several deputies trained handguns on the suspect as they instructed him to drop the weapons. The teen appeared to walk farther into the water.
Eventually, officers persuaded the suspect to drop the handgun, raise his hands and come ashore peacefully. The bag deputies recovered also contained 20 small bags of cannabis, according to the report.
The sheriff’s office stated the suspect was arrested and booked on suspicion of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a person under 18, improper exhibition of a firearm, commission of a second-degree felony with a weapon, resisting a law enforcement officer, tampering with evidence and possession of marijuana for sale, according to the report.
“This 16-year-old brought drugs and a gun to Volusia County during spring break,” R.J. Larizza, the state prosecutor for the region, said in a statement. “He will now face adult charges and serious consequences for his reckless actions. We welcome spring breakers, so long as they behave themselves.”