HBPD chase ends in Gulf of Mexico

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Abraham Saucedo

A police chase ended with the arrest of a 26-year-old Wimauma man who had fled into the Gulf of Mexico, saying he didn’t want to go back to jail.

Holmes Beach police arrested Abraham Saucedo at 1:52 p.m. March 11 for allegedly possessing drugs, fleeing and evading arrest and driving on a revoked license. He also faces a charge of giving a false name to an officer and citations for traffic violations.

The pursuit began after HBPD Officer Joel Pierce noticed a white Chevy Impala with window tint darker than the legal limit. The vehicle was traveling south in the 3700 block of Gulf Drive.

Running the tag, Pierce found it was expired and belonged to another vehicle. When he attempted to stop the motorist, Saucedo allegedly sped down Avenue F and drove into a backyard in the 3100 block.

Pierce and several other officers, including Chief Bill Tokajer, pursued Saucedo, who exited the vehicle, ran into the Gulf of Mexico and emptied his pockets in waist deep water, according to the police report.

Saucedo got out of the water after repeated demands by the officers.

Saucedo allegedly gave officers a false name, but police learned his real name from his girlfriend when she called his cellphone.

While searching the car, an HBPD officer found an open cigarette pack in the console allegedly containing marijuana, crystal meth and cocaine. Saucedo told police the drugs were for his use, according to the police report.

The next morning Holmes Beach officers returned to the location where Saucedo entered the Gulf after a swimmer reported finding two handguns in waist-deep water. Police recovered a 9 mm gun reported stolen in Port Charlotte, a .380 pistol and a magazine with four rounds of ammunition.

Saucedo remains at the Manatee County jail without bond.

He also is charged with a January 2015 burglary in Parrish. After the Holmes Beach arrest, his bond in the 2015 case was revoked.

Saucedo’s arraignment in the Holmes Beach case is set for 9 a.m. Friday, April 21, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.