Tampa Tribune
TAMPA, Fla. — A Zephyrhills man with two children in his car fled a traffic stop this morning before crashing and trying to escape into the chilly Hillsborough River, Tampa police say.
An officer jumped in to save Craig Kendrick, 34, and Kendrick was arrested shortly after midnight.
The incident began when an officer suspected that Kendrick’s silver Kia with dark tinted windows was an unreported stolen vehicle and attempted to stop it, an arrest report states. The car fled before crashing on Rome Avenue.
Kendrick’s children, ages 13 and 16, ran from the Kia. Kendrick also unsuccessfully tried running after the crash, jumping into the Hillsborough River. He swam about 30 yards into the river. The cold water and exhaustion took their toll, according to a police report. He treaded water and screamed for help.
Officers told him to swim to shore, but he refused.
“After a few more minutes of treading water and him not attempting to come ashore, Officer Mark Vazquez utilized the backseat from a police vehicle to swim out to the defendant and pull him onto shore,” the report states. “Vazquez was assisted by other officers on shore who used the rope/bag throwline to pull him in.”
Kendrick was treated for hypothermia and he also complained of chest pains.
He was taken to Tampa General Hospital.
After arresting Kendrick, police found a 9 mm handgun and a ski mask in the Kia’s trunk and determined Kendrick didn’t have a valid driver’s license, the report states.
Kendrick previously has been convicted of cocaine possession, police say.
Kendrick was charged this morning with child neglect, fleeing and eluding police, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and driving with a canceled, suspended or revoked license. He also was charged with armed robbery and grand theft in Hernando County.
Kendrick remains in jail. His bail has not been set.
Copyright 2009 Tampa Tribune