A Central Florida carjacking suspect jumped in a river and hid in mangroves before being arrested after an extensive search.
Volusia County deputies arrested a Fort Lauderdale man after he carjacked a man at gunpoint before ditching the car and jumping into the Halifax River, where deputies found him hiding in the mangroves.
The victim reported the suspect asked him for a ride on South Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores before pulling a gun, ordering him out of the car, and driving off in the victim’s vehicle.
The suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Grant Hagood-James, was then spotted swimming up to the deck of a restaurant in Port Orange. Hagood-James ran through the restaurant, threw away his shirt, before jumping back into the Halifax River and hiding out in mangroves.
Volusia Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a lengthy search that included Air One, K9, drones, boats and assistance from Port Orange Police Department, Edgewater Police Department and Daytona Beach Shores Public Safety.
Hagood-James was located and taken into custody, according to local law enforcement.
The victim was not injured, and his vehicle was found in a residential yard on Shamrock Drive in Port Orange. A gun was found near the location of where the victim’s car was recovered.
Hagood-James was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail and charged with armed carjacking.
