Police: Suspect Who Jumped Into Biscayne Bay Swam To Safety

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The suspect who jumped into Biscayne Bay near in an effort to elude police did not drown, said Miami-Dade Police.

The suspect was seen on security video exiting the water safely following an attempt to take him and another man into police custody early Wednesday morning.

Key Biscayne Police Chief Charles Press said it began around 3 a.m. when one of their officers spotted two men in a truck with a couple of bikes in the back.

Press said the officer decided to check it out because there have been a number of bike thefts in the city. When the officer tried to pull over the truck on Crandon Boulevard, it took off.

The officer followed and Press said there was a brief chase which was called off.

"Shortly thereafter, a county officer came on the air and said that they had a bail out and the bail out was in the water on the west part of the William Powell Bridge," said Press. "That's when our officers came over and observed two subjects in the water. They were swimming toward the City of Miami. They appeared to be in some type of distress."

"Under the commands of the police department he was told to come back," said Miami Fire Rescue Captain Ignatius Carroll. "He was obviously struggling and panicking and was helped out of the water and detained by police. But the second person kept going."

Key Biscayne police and Miami Fire Rescue immediately launched a search for him. Miami Fire Boat Central and Miami-Dade police and fire rescue assisted in the search.

Hours later, with police divers, boats and a chopper in the air -- nothing -- so the search was concluded.

Press said risking life for a couple of bicycles is not worth it.

"You don't ever wanna see anybody lose their life," said Press. "To lose it over something this ridiculous is, it's hard to describe how we feel. Our job is to enforce the law and to engage criminals. I don't think there's a cop out there who wants to see it ending like this."

Press said the man they detained, David Delgado, will be charged with Grand Theft and Fleeing/Eluding Police. The other suspect remains on the loose.

Press added that they have uncovered surveillance video of the two men stealing the bikes.