VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A driver tried to swim away from officers during a police pursuit in Virginia Beach Thursday evening.
According to Virginia State Police, a trooper attempted to pull over a vehicle on I-264 West at Lynnhaven Parkway around 5:30 p.m. for reckless driving, but the driver refused to stop.
The trooper initiated a pursuit, which continued off the interstate at Rosemont Road. The suspect vehicle turned onto Virginia Beach Boulevard then eventually stopped at an apartment complex on Oconee Avenue. At that point police say the driver got out of the car, jumped into a nearby canal, then swam across it to an adjoining neighborhood.
Virginia Beach Police and a K9 unit tracked down the suspect hiding in some bushes.
Police have identified the driver as James Eric Hill, who lives in Virginia Beach. He was charged with reckless driving in general, reckless driving by speed, felony evade and elude and driving while revoked, and other violations.