A daring robbery suspect was apprehended in San Mateo after his soggy escape attempt turned into an hour-long standoff in a lagoon, a move that ended up being all wet according to a San Mateo Police Department report.
The aquatic adventure began on August 13, 2023, when officers responded to a call from a resident who had spotted two men trying to enter a locked gate on their property. A neighbor later advised police that he had been attacked by men matching this description and had his cell phone stolen. Officers managed to locate one of the suspects, 49-year-old Marvin Serrano, who, when confronted by police, led them on an 11-minute foot chase through the streets and over fences. And this is when things got wet and wild.
As the chase progressed, Serrano, still eager to escape, entered the parking lot of a local restaurant, ignored commands to surrender, and took a plunge into a nearby lagoon, thinking this would be a cunning way to give officers the slip.
A perimeter was quickly set around the lagoon as assistance came from the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, Harbor Patrol, and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office as detailed in the police report. Authorities succeeded in capturing the waterlogged Serrano after an hour-long standoff that would make even the most skilled swimmers feel tuckered out.
As for Serrano, he couldn't catch a break; he was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation before being booked into the San Mateo County Jail, facing multiple charges. Among the charges were second-degree robbery, battery causing serious bodily injury, resisting arrest, and committing a felony while on bail.
The police department is still trying to identify the second suspect, who remains at large at the time of writing. Any residents who might have information about the incident have been encouraged to contact the San Mateo Police Department at (650) 522-7700.
In the wake of this dramatic event, the San Mateo Police Department has offered three suggestions to the public to help prevent or solve crimes in the area: first, lock your doors and keep valuables out of sight; second, report suspicious or criminal activity by calling 911; and third, register your street-facing security cameras with the San Mateo Police Department's Neighborhood Eyes Security Team (NEST) program.
