CARLSBAD —A man wanted on a felony warrant out of Orange County allegedly fled into Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad on Tuesday when police approached, leading to a watery pursuit for the better part of an hour before finally emerging from the estuary and surrendering.
Officers with the Carlsbad Police Department tried to contact Jeffery Unmacht, 53, near the intersection of Avenida Encinas and Ponto Drive shortly before 10 a.m. on a report that he had been causing a disturbance in the area, according to CPD public affairs.
Seeing the personnel approach, Unmacht — the outstanding subject of an arrest warrant for allegedly making criminal threats — jumped into the nearby lagoon and swam away, police said.
Lifeguards on paddleboards followed the suspect as he swam around in the estuary, with officers and an airborne crew in a sheriff’s patrol helicopter keeping tabs on him, according to police.
After about 45 minutes, Unmacht left the water near La Costa Avenue and Interstate 5 and was taken into custody without further incident. Officers took him to a hospital for a medical evaluation prior to booking him into jail, police said.
For the latest crime reports in Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar, please visit The Coast News’ Weekly Crime Reports. For up-to-the-minute arrest reports in North County, check out Daily Arrest Logs. Read more local crime news here.
