Robbery Suspect Swims From Police, Caught In Lagoon

SAN MATEO, CA — San Mateo officers apprehended a robbery suspect this week after a foot chase with a dramatic finale, according to police.

In a news release, officials said officers were first called to Vanessa Drive around 6:41 a.m. after a resident reported seeing two men on their security camera trying to enter a locked gate on their property.

As officers were in the neighborhood searching for the men, a neighbor told them he was attacked by people with the same description and had his cell phone stolen. Police spotted one man, who took off running through the neighborhood and jumped several fences.

Police said the foot chase lasted 11 minutes before the man ran into a restaurant parking lot and leaped into a nearby lagoon, swimming away. Officers set up a perimeter around the water and worked with the fire department, harbor patrol, and sheriff's office to safely remove the man from the water.

He was identified Monday as 49-year-old Marvin Serrano.

After approximately an hour, police successfully arrested Serrano, and he was taken to the hospital for evaluation, then booked into jail on suspicion of multiple crimes. The investigation remains open, and detectives are still working to identify the second man. Anyone with information that could help can contact police at 650-522-7700.