A 32-year-old shirtless Vero Beach man was safely detained Monday after police said he jumped into the Indian River Lagoon and then got on a private boat to escape officers.
The man was not given a trespass charge, but was instead taken to a mental health facility under the Baker Act, Vero Beach police spokesman Officer Darrell Rivers said. The man will be held for up to 72 hours for observation.
The Baker Act is a Florida law that allows emergency health services for people with mental illness. Rivers said the man did not make any threats toward officers or anyone else.
Police responded to reports of a suspicious man about 4 p.m. Monday in the Vero Isles community near Park Avenue. The caller stated the man was yelling, “Fake news,” Rivers said.
When officers arrived on scene, the man jumped into the Indian River Lagoon and began to swim north toward Sailfish Road, Rivers said. The distance between Park Avenue and Sailfish Road is about 25 yards.
Rivers said the man then got out of the water, ran east and hopped on a resident’s private boat. When officers approached, the man jumped back into the lagoon and swam south toward Park Avenue, where he was detained, police said.
