Deputies apprehended 25-year-old Raymundo Navarro-Jimenez, a wanted felon with a warrant from San Joaquin County, after a car chase turned into a wet pursuit down the Russian River. The Sonoma Sheriff’s Office reported that the suspect took to the waters of the Russian River, attempting to throw off law enforcement with a combination of swimming and elusive maneuvers along the 11800 to 13000 blocks of River Road and Riverside Drive.
Navarro-Jimenez led authorities on a chase that lasted over an hour, during which the Sheriff’s helicopter, Henry 1, played a crucial role from above, using its searchlight to keep the suspect in sight. He alternated between land and water, stubbornly dipping in and out of the river in a desperate attempt to evade capture, which ultimately proved futile. The Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit sergeant stepped into the chilly waters with the help of a California State Parks lifeguard, eventually making a ‘rescue’ of sorts as Navarro-Jimenez surrendered without further incident. Once safely on shore, he was arrested and taken into custody with the assistance of the Sonoma County Fire District, which was on site to ensure a coordinated and safe conclusion…