Man Arrested After Leading Police On Chase In Stolen Car, Jumping Into Pool: Sheriff

LOMITA, CA — A man was arrested last week after leading deputies on a chase that ended with him jumping into a residential pool, according to the Lomita Sheriff's Station.

Deputies say they observed the man committing a traffic violation in the area of Western Avenue and Lomita Boulevard on July 15. They ran the plates and discovered that the car had been reported stolen out of Phoenix, Arizona, according to the Lomita Sheriff's Station.

Video shared by the department on Wednesday shows deputies attempting to pull the man over.

He appears to back into the sheriff's vehicle before driving away, leading the deputies on a chase into a cul-de-sac neighborhood in the area of Padron Place and Nordman Street, where he ditches the car. That's when deputies discovered a malnourished puppy in the stolen car.

After ditching the car, the man can then be seen on security footage jumping over the fence into a residential backyard.

"Community members played a huge role: One resident reported the suspect jumped into their pool, leaving behind his shoes," the Lomita Sheriff's Station said in a statement on social media Wednesday. "Another called in saying a wet, barefoot and shirtless man was hiding behind her house."

Through a multi-department effort, law enforcement personnel eventually located the man and took him into custody on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle, evading police and animal abandonment, according to authorities.

The puppy, meanwhile, was taken to a nearby shelter, where it is receiving care, according to authorities.

"This is another great example of proactive policing, multi-agency teamwork, and community involvement helping take a dangerous felon off our streets," according to the Lomita Sheriff's Station.