Florida man jumps into canal to keep away from arrest

A Florida man swam by way of a number of canals whereas attempting to evade authorities after allegedly punching his neighbor within the face throughout an argument, authorities mentioned Tuesday. 

Phillip McGraw allegedly entered his neighbor’s storage Sunday afternoon and “approached him aggressively” earlier than punching him within the face, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned. Each males have been on the road when McGraw’s stepfather, James Jones, pulled as much as the sufferer’s residence. 

McGraw bought within the passenger seat of Jones’ automobile and so they drove away. Sheriff’s deputies tried to provoke a site visitors cease on the automobile, however Jones fled, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned. Jones then drove to McGraw’s residence, and McGraw fled on foot in the direction of the canal behind the residence, authorities mentioned. 

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Phillip McGraw is questioned by deputies after his arrest following his Sunday afternoon swim in a Florida canal whereas attempting to evade authorities.  ( Flagler County Sheriff’s Workplace)

Sooner or later, he allegedly jumped right into a canal to keep away from arrest. 

“After swimming by way of a number of canals in an try to flee, McGraw was caught and arrested behind a residence on Crandell Courtroom,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned. 

Bodycam footage taken from deputies reveals a canal with the deputies overheard attempting to speak to McGraw from a distance. 

“Hey, there’s folks proper there. There’s cops there and there,” a deputy is heard saying. “What are you doing?”

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“Dude, what are you doing this for?” one other deputy is heard asking. 

Throughout his arrest, one deputy is heard reminding McGraw of an analogous encounter with him weeks earlier. 

“Two, three weeks in the past you ran from us,” he mentioned. “Similar two folks… into your home once you had the warrant.”

A mugshot of Phillip McGraw after his arrest in Florida.  ( Flagler County Sheriff’s Workplace)

McGraw was charged with housebreaking of a dwelling — occupied and unarmed, easy battery, petit theft, and resisting an officer with out violence. He’s being held on a $32,500 bond.

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Jones was taken into custody on suspicion of resisting an officer with out violence and was launched after posting a $500 bond.

“You may attempt to run from a Deputy Sheriff, however you’ll solely go to jail drained — on this case moist too — and with extra prices,” mentioned Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. “Unhappy to see it was a household journey to jail earlier than Thanksgiving, however at the very least they is likely to be residence collectively for the vacations.”