A man wanted on a felony warrant spent about 90 minutes in the Pacific Ocean off Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles County before Los Angeles County lifeguards surrounded and took him into custody.

The incident began around 7:21 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2026, when officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's West LA Division attempted to contact the suspect near Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard. The man allegedly fled on foot, running past a lifeguard tower and entering the water at Will Rogers State Beach.

According to KTLA, the suspect remained hundreds of yards offshore as lifeguards on rescue boards monitored his condition and attempted to communicate with him. A sheriff's department boat and a county lifeguard rescue boat positioned themselves offshore during the standoff.

Video captured by SkyFOX showed the suspect struggling against three LA County lifeguards as they worked to restrain him before guiding him toward a waiting LA County Sheriff's Department boat. FOX 11 reported the suspect swam about a mile during the ordeal and appeared to be nude from the waist down.

The man was eventually pulled toward the sheriff's boat by lifeguards and deputies, ending the unusual escape attempt.

Sources