VIDEO: Man crashed into retention pond while attempting to evade Dorchester County deputies

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A man who led Dorchester County deputies in a pursuit Thursday night crashed into a retention pond and attempted to swim away from law enforcement.

Deputies with the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office were patrolling on Mallard Road in the Jedburg area when they attempted to stop a black GMC Terrain for having a defective license plate light.

The driver “immediately turned onto Lagonna Drive and accelerated at a high rate of speed,” according to the sheriff’s office. The vehicle stopped in the wrong lane, then sped off from deputies.

Officials said the pursuit ended after the suspect drove into a retention pond. Deputies instructed the suspect to surrender; however, he started to swim in the opposite direction toward a wooded area.

A K9 officer, named Yoda, was deployed to help apprehend the suspect. The man re-entered the retention pond to avoid arrest, but he was eventually taken into custody.

Craig Michael Finkbeiner, 39, of Summerville, was arrested on charges of failure to stop for blue lights and driving under suspension.

He was taken to an area hospital to be checked out before being booked at the L.C. Knight Detention Center.