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Florida

Florida deputy jumps on Jet Ski, chases down fugitive trying to swim away, bodycam video shows

Clyde Merrill Hunter had an active felony warrant for grand theft auto

By Stephen Sorace Fox News
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Florida deputy uses Jet Ski in pursuit to arrest a wanted fugitive Video

Florida deputy uses Jet Ski in pursuit to arrest a wanted fugitive

A Florida deputy’s bodycam recorded his wild pursuit of a wanted fugitive last week that began on foot and ended after a short rundown on a Jet Ski.

Walton County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Miramar Beach on Friday following a tip that Clyde Merrill Hunter was staying at a residence there, the sheriff’s office said in a news release Monday.

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Hunter had an active felony warrant from Walton County for grand theft auto. He had just been released from custody on July 23 after recently being charged with several armed and unarmed vehicle burglaries, theft of a firearm, and theft of several motor vehicles.

A deputy caught Hunter while chasing after the fugitive on a Jet Ski.

A deputy caught Hunter while chasing after the fugitive on a Jet Ski. (Walton County Sheriff's Office)

At the residence, deputies said they found numerous stolen tools and vessel registrations to two stolen wave runners out of Okaloosa County in a bag under Hunter’s clothes. Hunter was then spotted fleeing on foot.

Deputies tracked him down to Cessna Park, where he was riding one of the stolen wave runners. After Hunter got off the wave runner and onto the boat ramp, deputies approached him and commanded him to stop.

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Hunter bolted and deputies followed on foot until the suspect tried to evade capture by jumping in the water and swimming away.

Bodycam video shows the short foot pursuit before a deputy commandeered a nearby Jet Ski and caught up to Hunter, whom he guided back to land for his arrest.

Deputies said a bag on the stolen Jet Ski contained various burglary tools, including bolt cutters, a hammer, a drill, a screwdriver, a drill bit, a pry tool, a pick tool used for ignitions, and a wrench.

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Hunter was charged with grand theft auto, violation of felony probation, possession of burglary tools, obstruction, burglary and grand theft.