COOPER CITY, FLA. (WSVN) - A robbery suspect was taken into custody after he jumped into a canal in Cooper City in an attempt to elude deputies.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue arrived at the scene in the area of Southwest 49th Place and 100th Avenue, Tuesday morning.
According to officials, the alleged robbery happened around 10:30 a.m. not far from the Cooper City neighborhood near Palm Avenue and Griffin Road.
7Skyforce hovered over the scene, where officials surrounded the canal as they attempt to recover the suspect.A white flotation device was thrown in the water but the suspect refused to cooperate with officials.
Divers arrived at the scene as they attempt to pull the suspect out of the water.
7News cameras captured the suspect waving at the helicopter as officials swam toward him.
After some time in the water, the suspect swam to shore and was pulled out of the water by officials. They covered the suspect with a sheet because he removed his clothes while he was in the canal.
Witnesses described what they saw.
“The gentleman had ample, ample opportunity to get out and he chose not to,” said David Penny. “There was a floating device right now. I had a big floating device and I said ‘You can borrow it or whatever’ and they were going to use that.”
“I saw the young kid, technically, and he was swimming back and forth,” said another man.
Penny said that while the suspect was being arrested, he was saying ‘Please.’
At one point, 7SkyForce showed two female officers speaking to the man at close range. Multiple times during the conversation, the man put his two hands together in front of his face, like he’s in a state of prayer.
The suspect has been identified as 24-year-old Jonathan Andrew Stewart.
He faces a charge of strong-arm robbery and wearing a mask while committing a second-degree felony.
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