Cops: Suspected Burglar Tried to Swim Away from Police

A Freeport man tried to swim away from police who recognized him as a suspect in an April burglary, according to Nassau County Police.

Officers were on an unrelated investigation at Atlantic Avenue and Westend Avenue in Freeport at 11:50 a.m. Saturday when they passed Nikolas Balalos, 26, police said.

One of the detectives recognized Balalos as a suspect in the April 11 burglary of DQ Bar, located at 382 Atlantic Avenue, cops said.

Detectives tried to stop Balalos, who fled, jumped into a canal between Anchor Street and Dock Drive, and swam toward Baldwin Bay, authorities said. A nearby boat owner helped detectives chase Balalos down and eventually take him into custody on Eastern Boulevard, cops said. No one was injured.

Balalos was charged with third-degree burglary. An open Nassau County warrant for criminal possession of a controlled substance was also discovered. He was arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Image via NCPD