Harbor Police Arrest Man Who Jumped Into San Diego Bay

Monday, 30 March 2009

A man was pulled from San Diego Bay and arrested over the weekend after jumping off the Broadway Pier. The San Diego Harbor Police Department said the incident took place about 6 p.m. Saturday. It took nine officers, including three divers, to pluck the man from the Bay, said Officer Jeff Geary.

When police arrived, they said the man did not appear to be in distress and he was directed to get out of the Bay using a Pier ladder. Instead, the man swam past the ladder and refused to leave the water, saying he intended to swim to Coronado, said Sgt. Robert Mickschl.

The man stayed in the water for 45 minutes and officers continued to talk with him as he drifted about 3,000 feet with the incoming tide, Mickschl said.

He was taken into custody off the G Street Mole Pier without incident. One officer injured his back attempting to get the man who weighed more than 300 pounds into the police vessel. He was evaluated by paramedics then taken to County Jail.

---