2 teens accused of stealing Camry fished out of Manatee River

PARRISH, Fla. - Deputies arrested two teenagers Wednesday night after a wild sequence involving a stolen car and a desperate attempt to swim across the Manatee River to escape law enforcement. 

River getaway gone wrong

What we know:

A white Toyota Camry, reported stolen by the Largo Police Department, was spotted by Manatee County sheriff's deputies in the 8300 block of U.S. Highway 301 North at a Sonic Drive-In. When deputies tried to pull it over, they said the driver hopped a concrete median into a nearby neighborhood. Law enforcement said they did not pursue the vehicle, which was later found abandoned on 80th Avenue East.

Deputies flooded the area with a K-9 unit and a helicopter, tracking the suspects as they ran toward the Manatee River and jumped in. When one teenager began to struggle, deputies launched a small boat to rescue them, while a crew from the North River Fire District arrived with a second boat to pull the other suspect from the water, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. During detective interviews, one teen reportedly confessed to stealing the car in Largo and breaking into multiple other vehicles in the area. Both teens face charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing to elude, trespassing in a conveyance and resisting an officer without violence.

What they're saying:

Officials expressed concern over the dangerous actions taken by the teenagers during the escape attempt.

"The deputies became very concerned, not just about catching them, because we knew crimes had been committed, but we were concerned about them going deeper into the river. North River Fire Department, manatee search and rescue was also there to help us out. Deputies were able to find this boat. It was just good timing, and they went out there and made contact. It could have turned out a lot worse," Randy Warren with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office noted.

Stolen vehicle aftermath

What's next:

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office noted that additional charges are expected to be filed by the Largo Police Department as the investigation continues.

"Series of bad decisions, stole a car, committing burglaries, running from deputies, jumping into water they are unfamiliar with. We are just fortunate that it all turned out to where nobody was injured. Deputies were at risk trying to rescue them now they have to pay the consequences," said Warren.