Man Hits Patrol Boat, Is Arrested
- Share via
A 30-year-old man who sideswiped a Harbor Patrol boat with his skiff was later arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana and methamphetamine, authorities said Wednesday.
John Harold Torres of Long Beach was in a 14-foot rental skiff in the federal navigation channel off Bay Island about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday when an Orange County Harbor Patrol deputy approached him by boat and found “a small metal pipe, similar to those used to smoke marijuana,” at the stern of the vessel, sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Dick Olson said.
Less than a gram of methamphetamine was also found, deputies said.
Torres then pulled the anchor and started the engine, Olson said. As the deputy tried to maneuver to stop him, Torres intentionally struck the patrol boat several times with the rental skiff, causing damage to the side of the patrol boat, Olson said.
Two other Harbor Patrol boats arrived and helped the deputy take Torres into custody on suspicion of evading arrest and drug possession.
Torres was being held at Orange County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Neither Torres nor the deputy was injured.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
