Arrested: Tampa police chase fleeing thief into Tampa Bay

Around 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 1, a woman was robbed in the parking lot of a hotel on N Westshore Blvd in Tampa, Florida, when a man snatched her wallet and ran. Witnesses saw the alleged thief – later identified as 32-year-old Dewayne Dean – flee to Cypress Pointe Beach, which is where officers located him.

Trying to avoid an arrest, the fugitive ran into the waters of Old Tampa Bay and began to swim further out into the Bay.  Several minutes after he entered the water, Dean managed to swim about 200 feet offshore – where he finally came to a stop and surrendered to police.

According to Hillsborough County jail records, Dean faces charges of robbery by sudden snatching and resisting officers without violence. He was also arrested on warrants for battery (second or subsequent offense), aggravated battery on a pregnant woman, and three probation violations: grant theft, fleeing to elude police at high speed, and possession of cocaine. ~ WFLA

Following Dean being taking into custody, police in Tampa posted a statement to their Facebook page which read:

“🚨𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃🚨ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ʀᴜɴ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴏᴘᴘᴇʀ! 🚁 #YourTampaPD  Aviation, Marine, Dive and Patrol teams worked together to catch a fleeing robbery suspect.”

(Source and Images: Tampa Police Department)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter