INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The body of a man who was involved in a police chase where he jumped into the Indian River Lagoon to evade officers, was discovered floating in the water not far from the shoreline Sunday in Sebastian. The man was identified as 18-year-old Elias J. Ramos, of Edgewater, Volusia County.
“It appears the man drowned, but that has not been officially confirmed,” said Capt. Joe Abollo, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s unfortunate. This is a tragic incident.”
Abollo said Ramos appeared to have been dead for a few days. Deputies were investigating the finding as a suspicious death.
An autopsy, scheduled for this week, will determine Ramos’ exact cause of death. Abollo said Ramos had no known connection to Indian River County.
A boater found Ramos’ body at 9 a.m. about 25 yards from the 12900 block of North Indian River Drive in Sebastian and called 911, Abollo said.
“They found what they believed was a dead body floating in the water,” Abollo said. “Our marine unit instantly came out, identified it as a dead body and were able to bring it to shore.”
Ramos’ body was taken to the medical examiner’s office in Fort Pierce.
Video by Nick Samuel
The incident initially began last week in Edgewater, where Ramos got into a family dispute, according to Abollo. Ramos then traveled to Palm Beach County, where he underwent a mental health evaluation at a facility.
Abollo said Ramos then stole a vehicle and headed north to Indian River County.
Sebastian police observed a white Kia Seltos about 2:35 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, traveling more than 100 mph along northbound U.S. 1 near Barber Street, said Tim Wood, deputy chief for the Sebastian Police Department.
Officers later found the sports utility vehicle parked near Baldwin Drive in Micco, Brevard County.
Officers tried to make contact with Ramos, who was standing outside of the vehicle. Ramos then ran eastbound from police and jumped into the Indian River Lagoon, officials said.
“(Officers) saw him jump into the water,” Abollo said.
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation boat, along with a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, scanned the waters to search for Ramos, but were unsuccessful, Wood said. It was not immediately clear how long the search lasted.
“Based on recent weather conditions and investigative findings, it is believed the body may have traveled south through the lagoon before washing ashore in Indian River County,” Abollo said.
The investigation remains active.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
No further details were immediately available.
