Man fleeing police apparently drowns in pond

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – An investigation is underway after a suspected auto thief drowned while trying to escape Jacksonville police.

The incident happened late Tuesday when an officer tried to stop a speeding sports utility vehicle.

The Florida Times-Union (http://bit.ly/1K1GyKk ) reports the driver refused to stop and eventually jumped from the moving vehicle. The officer caught up with the fleeing man and, when he refused to stop, he fired a stun gun at him.

The suspect climbed a fence and ran into a retention pond. Police say he went under water and did not reappear.

A dive team recovered the man’s body hours later. He was in his 20s.

Police haven’t released his name. An autopsy will be performed.