Crime & Safety
Attempted Boat Thief Swam Away, Hid Underwater: Sarasota Sheriff
Aviation and K-9 units helped find a man who swam away after trying to steal a boat in Englewood, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said.
ENGLEWOOD, FL — When a man trying to steal a boat docked in Englewood tried to get away by swimming into the Intracoastal Waterway, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deployed its aviation and K-9 units to find him. (Watch the search for and apprehension of the suspect below.)
Matthew DiPaolo, 35, of Port Charlotte was charged with attempted grand theft of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest with violence. He's being held on a $15,000 bond.
Deputies responded to reports of the wannabe boat thief in the 700 block of West Wentworth Street Thursday just after 1 a.m. Before they arrived, the suspect jumped from the vessel and started swimming away, the sheriff’s office said.
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After a search using infrared equipment, DiPaolo was spotted trying to hide himself underwater. The aviation unit guided K-9 and patrol deputies to his location and he was taken into custody, SCSO said.
Watch the infrared search for and apprehension of DiPaolo:
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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