Santa Rosa Beach man in custody after fleeing deputies into the Choctawhatchee Bay

WALTON COUNTY, FL. ( WMBB ) – A Santa Rosa Beach man is in custody after jumping into the Choctawhatchee Bay to avoid arrest.

On Friday, Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau said they attempted to arrest 46-year-old, Michael Pendley of Hewitt Point Road in Santa Rosa Beach.

According to a news release, Pendley was in connection with several storage unit burglaries in Freeport.

Witnesses told investigators Pendley had taken off on foot down the beach on the bayside. Deputies said when they approached him he fled into the Choctawhatchee Bay.

A deputy from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Beach Marine Unit went into the water on a rescue board to convince Pendley to come back to the dock and give himself up, officials wrote.

Pendley was placed under arrest and is being transported to the Walton County Jail.

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