Man drives into ocean to avoid arrest

Man drives into ocean to avoid arrest

(Channel 7 News, Australia)


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PERTH, Australia — A two-hour police chase ended after a man allegedly in possession of a stolen vehicle drove into the ocean as a means to evade arrest.

The incident began at approximately 10:30 a.m. Wednesday when authorities began to tail a man believed to be in a stolen SUV. Police called off the pursuit once the driver crossed over onto the wrong side of the road and it became unsafe to continue, according to NBC News' Australian affiliate, Channel 7.

Crews later followed the SUV by air as it left the roadways and began driving on the shore. When police vehicles caught up with and cornered the man on a Perth beach, leaving the man with nowhere to go, the man took the road less travelled by driving directly into the ocean.

The SUV was rapidly overcome with water and the man climbed onto the roof of the floating vehicle. Two officers left their car and went into the water after him.

Authorities fish an allegedly stolen vehicle out of the ocean after a man drove it into the water to avoid being arrested. (Photo: Channel 7 News)
Authorities fish an allegedly stolen vehicle out of the ocean after a man drove it into the water to avoid being arrested. (Photo: Channel 7 News)

"Looking back now, it was probably a bit risky," Sgt. Matthew Bruse of Lancelin Police told Channel 7. "We wanted to get him to safety but also apprehend him because he was allegedly in possession of a stolen car."

The situation became dicey as Bruse and his partner Const. Jared Pearsall had to avoid the bobbing vehicle and the rolling waves in an attempt to apprehend the alleged car thief.

Efforts to persuade the man back onto dry land failed until a wave broke on top of the SUV and "freed his grip on the car," Bruse said.

The two-hour ordeal came to a close when the man eventually conceded and swam back to shore.

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