Suspect fleeing from police drowns in pond despite efforts of officers

Press release from Gainesville Police Department

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At approximately 12:05 a.m. this morning, officers of the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) observed a red scooter in the vicinity of NE 25th Street and NE 6th Avenue. A Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) inquiry on the scooter’s license plate showed that the scooter’s registration had been expired since 2018, and the scooter was later discovered to be stolen. The officer activated the emergency lights on the marked police vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Upon seeing the marked police vehicle attempting to conduct a traffic stop, the driver lost control of the scooter and fled on foot toward a wooded area in the 2400 block of NE 6th Ave.

The initiating officer remained with the scooter while waiting for assisting officers to arrive on scene. Upon arriving on scene, GPD officers began to search for the driver in a marsh-like area. At approximately 12:15 a.m., GPD officers located the driver in distress approximately 50 feet away in a pond. Officers called out to the driver, encouraging him to swim to the officers so they could assist him. The driver was attempting to remain above water but was unable to do so and began to sink beneath the water line. GPD officers immediately requested EMS and created a rescue plan.

Multiple GPD officers took off their equipment and entered the water to conduct a water rescue. Officers tied a K9 handler’s leash to an officer, who then swam to the driver’s location. The driver was unable to stay above water and submerged. The officer was able to swim under the water and retrieve the driver. Officers then pulled both the driver and the officer back toward land.

Officers immediately began life saving measures on the driver. EMS arrived on scene and eventually transported the driver to a local hospital. The driver was later pronounced deceased at the hospital early this morning.

The officer who swam out and retrieved the driver was treated and released on scene for minor injuries

  • Well if you play bad guy and resist and run from the police bad things are bound to happen. At least GPD tried to save him risking their own safety. Maybe court ordered swim lesson need to added to Judge Green”s easy bond releases.

    • Stop being so freaking mean what if this was your family member you would be singing a different song. He too has family that loves him

      • My family was raised to respect the law to do what’s right in life like getting a job taking care of your kids paying taxes, so no I don’t worry about my family doing this

  • Rescuing a drowning adult is incredibly dangerous, and there are many tragic stories of the rescuers themselves drowning due to the panicking victim.

    No doubt there will be attempts to blame GPD for this, regardless.

  • I guess some will be calling for ring buoys or life vests to be standard issue police equipment now.
    Those same people should be calling for criminals to stop when told to.

  • Our GPD and ASO officers should *not* have to jeopardize their clean uniforms for such Darwin Award candidates — only for an overpaid public lawyer and judge to release them later. Ever. The cops don’t get paid enough.

    • Rest assured Jeff, the local Public Defender is extremely underpaid for what they have to deal with.

  • A very unfortunate incident. GPD and City Leaders please support these officers that tried to save this person. They deserve the Medal of Valor for risking their lives!

  • At least one of those so called ‘racist’ K-9s didn’t get him. Actually. the dog might have saved him from his poor decision to swim (sink) with the fishes.

  • I just think it’s all a conspiracy and it’s very sad my condolences go to both the family and the officer because they will forever be traumatized by this event

  • Maybe GPD needs to start handing out POOL PASSES like in the old days to teach the criminal element how to swim.

  • This case illustrates the nature of enforcement costs. Any law when enforced, no matter how trivial the corresponding offense, carries a risk of death for both the suspect and the officer. That’s why we should be very cautious about enacting laws willy-nilly over trivialities. In this case, the law was reasonable, and the officer’s actions were reasonable. However, there are countless cases of people whose lives have been lost over trivialities, such as the loss of Randy Weaver’s family members because his shotgun was 3/8th of an inch too short.

  • I’m sure the liberals will find some way to blame the police here and block traffic.

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