Photo: Jason James Harvey
GARDEN GROVE — A wanted transient man who attempted to escape from officers by jumping into a flood basin and swimming away was rescued and then arrested.
Intent on locating a person involved in an ongoing police investigation, Garden Grove police officers made their way through Haster Basin Recreational Park, located at 12952 Lampson Ave., during the late morning of February.
A group of transient men were gathered near a gazebo inside the park. As the officers approached the group, one of the men took flight.
He hopped a fence, then launched himself into the park’s large flood basins and began to swim away from the officers. Before long, the water’s cold temperature appeared to take a toll on the man’s ability to keep swimming. As he continued to distance himself and it began to rain, officers lost sight of the water escapee.
It became clear that backup was needed, as officers realized their suspect could have possibly drowned. They called in a fire department water rescue team as well as a police helicopter to assist in locating the man. A helicopter finally found him near the shoreline, hiding under shrubbery and clearly displaying symptoms of hypothermia. He was helped out of the water and transported to a local hospital to receive treatment.
The man, who was identified as 31-year-old transient from Garden Grove named Jason James Harvey, had several warrants out for his arrest. Charges of running from the police and trespassing were added to his previously existing charges for grand theft, burglary, under the influence of drugs, and false representation.
