Man chased by deputies in Pompano Beach drowns in canal

After being chased by Broward deputies, a man drowned in a canal in Pompano Beach late Sunday night.

The man, who was not identified, was stopped with another bicyclist at McNab Road and Andrews Avenue at 11:15 Sunday night. He soon took off running, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies had been conducting extra patrols in the area in reponse to a recent string of burglaries to businesses.

One of the late-night cyclists had a large number of coins and someone else’s identification in his wallet, but had cooperated with deputies. The other was carrying a small woman’s coin purse and took off mid-questioning, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

He was not under arrest or in handcuffs.

Deputies pursued him running east and attempted to Taser him but apparently missed. The man stripped his clothes as he cut through the parking lot of St. Henry Catholic Church before jumping into the C-14 canal behind the church.

Deputies say the man swam a few feet, surfaced once, then sank. One deputy jumped into after the man, but was unable to find him in the murky water.

BSO’s dive team eventually recovered the body an hour later at 12:15 a.m. Monday.

The deputy was taken to Broward Health North as a precaution after swallowing water during the attempted rescue.

BSO homicide detectives are investigating the drowning and the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the man’s identity and cause of death.

This story was originally published February 9, 2015 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Man chased by deputies in Pompano Beach drowns in canal."