PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A fleeing man being served a warrant on a felony probation violation jumped into a canal near Lake Worth Beach and his body was found by deputies, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.
Shortly after noon, Palm Beach County deputies were chasing the unidentified man, who also was a suspect in a recent armed robber, when he went into the water in the mouth of Lake Osborne near John Prince Park, spokeswoman Terri Barbera told WPTV. He went halfway across the water and then went under, Barbera said.
Deputies jumped into the water in search of him.
The man was found later by PBSO personnel in the canal. On Thursday, PBSO identified him as Jamesley Civil, 27.
PBSO used its Eagle helicopter and a marine unit in the search.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue units were called to the scene at 12:42 p.m. They utilized two personal rescue water craft/jet-skis and also had several divers searching in the water for over an hour, according to the agency. No person was found and the scene was turned over to PBSO at 2:20 p.m. as a recovery operation.
PBSO detectives assigned to the warrants division earlier were looking for the suspect.
Detectives had information that he was staying in an abandoned unit in Oakwood Townhomes in the 2400 block of Second Ave near Lake Worth Beach, Barber said in a news release.
After they found the suspect, he fled on foot.
After the suspect jumped into the Keller canal, detectives gave verbal commands to surrender. He ignored them and later drowned.
Detectives from the Violent Crimes Division arrived on the scene to assume the death investigation.