Man drowns while hiding in pool after fleeing Palm Bay officers during traffic stop, police say

Police say man ran to his home nearby

Generic image of police lights. (pixabay)

PALM BAY, Fla. – Detectives are sorting through details of a weekend traffic stop that ended with a 31-year-old man running to his home and apparently drowning in an above-ground swimming pool while hiding from officers.

The incident happened about 2:30 a.m. Sunday along Polk Street near Corning Avenue in the northwest section of the city, according to News 6 partner Florida Today.

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Palm Bay police were attempting a traffic stop when the man got out of the vehicle and fled, said Lt. Jeff Spears, spokesperson for the Palm Bay Police Department. Police did not identify the man.

Officers later determined the man ran to his home nearby.

A search led to the discovery of the man’s body in an above-ground pool at the residence. Spears said the man appeared to be wedged between a stairwell and a pool wall.

“His head was above water. He may have panicked...we really don’t know at this point,” Spears said.

An autopsy was slated to take place this week. An investigation is ongoing.


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