Deputies Fish Drowning Suspect Out of Canal

PORT RICHEY, FL — A 39-year-old man who reportedly tried to flee Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday night by diving into a canal ended up requiring a save from the very law enforcement officers he tried to run from.

According to the sheriff’s office, Jeral Bornstein’s escape attempt was flawed from the start. It seems he doesn't happen to be the strongest of swimmers.

The unusual escape and capture began to unfold around 10 p.m. Nov. 9 when a deputy noticed a blue Jeep in the area of U.S. 19 and State Road 52. The Jeep had been connected to a recent retail theft, an email from the agency said.

The deputy made an attempt to pull the Jeep’s driver over, but it didn’t go quite as planned. The sheriff’s office said Bornstein took off from the traffic stop and “intentionally swerved the vehicle at a patrol car.”

As the deputy took evasive action to avoid a crash, the Jeep took off southbound on U.S. 19, the email said. In the area of Westport and Seabreeze drives, Bornstein bailed out, ran and jumped into a canal.

It didn’t take Deputies John Riyad and Robert Auch long to notice Bornstein was in more trouble than an alleged retail theft charge, the email noted. "Jeral jumped into a canal and began struggling to swim," the email said.

The two “went into the water and rescued Jeral who was unresponsive when he was brought to shore,” the email said. “Multiple deputies performed CPR and attached an AED and brought Jeral back before Fire Rescue arrived.”

Bornstein was taken to a local hospital following the incident. He later told deputies “he fled because he did not have a driver’s license,” the email noted.

Bornstein now faces charges related to outstanding retail theft warrants, a speeding citation and a fleeing and eluding charge, among others, the sheriff’s office said.

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