VIDEO: Wanted Victoria man taken into custody after dramatic Coast Guard rescue

| February 6, 2023 in Provincial

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A man wanted in BC was taken into custody after a dramatic rescue by the US Coast Guard. 

Before being identified as a wanted criminal, Jericho Labonte was rescued from a vessel in choppy waters off of Cape Disappointment, Washington.

Videos shared by the US Coast Guard show a rescuer swimming out to the boat. Just as Labonte jumps into the water, a large wave capsizes the vessel. Fortunately, the rescue swimmer was able to recover Labonte and get him to safety.  

After the rescue, the Astoria Police in Oregon received a call from a concerned citizen, who said that the rescue subject had previously posted a video of himself leaving a dead fish at the house the Goonies was filmed at.

A few days later, police received a call from Port Security Chief Matt Hansen informing them that the vessel involved in the Coast Guard rescue earlier in the day was stolen from the Port of Astoria.  

He recognized the vessel on the video, contacted the owner, and confirmed that it had been stolen. At about the same time, police also received calls from several citizens identifying the rescued victim as Labonte.  

The Victoria Police issued a wanted notice for Labonte last month. He is wanted BC-wide for five unendorsed warrants for charges of criminal harassment, mischief and three counts of failure to comply.

Labonte had been taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital after the rescue as a precaution, and was discharged before being identified.

He was later taken into custody at a warming centre.

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