Crime & Safety

Water-logged Fugitives Arrested in Schwan Lagoon

A wanted man and his female companion made deputies wait while they sat in Schwan Lagoon on Tuesday.

Two suspected burglars got into a soggy standoff with sheriff's deputies Tuesday morning when they tried to flee law enforcement by diving into Schwan Lagoon, the Sheriff's Office reported.

One, a 28-year-old Watsonville man, has twice been a most-wanted fugitive in Santa Cruz County.

Deputies found Nathan Tzimbal asleep with Violet Marie Perez, 30, a transient, in a Live Oak motor home at 1010 Live Oak Ave. around 10:22 a.m. Tuesday. Tzimbal and Perez were suspected of burglarizing three RVs that morning and were taking a snooze break in the third, deputy April Skalland told Patch.

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At 10:41, the owner of the third RV, which Skalland described as "totally ransacked," reported that Tzimbal had swung a knife at him and claimed to have a gun before fleeing from the scene on foot with Perez.

"They were heading toward the back of the property onto Edmar Lane then to El Dorado Avenue. They kept running into a field behind Simpkins Swim Center," Skalland said.

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Sheriff's deputies found the RV owner at 11:03, who pointed them toward the suspected burglars. They had "jumped into Schwan Lake to avoid capture," Skalland said. 

Just 10 feet from the water's edge, the deputies called out to the suspects, but their commands were just met with profanity. Tzimbal and Perez swam farther from shore where deputies saw them emptying their backpack into the water. 

After about 20 minutes, "they finally stopped and figured they weren't going to get away, came to shore and were arrested," Skalland said.

Tzimbal, who according to Skalland was being actively sought as recently as last week, was found with 0.6 grams of methamphetamine. Another 0.4 grams were found in the RV. He was arrested by Deputy John Habermehl on three counts of burglary, possession of a controlled stubstance, resisting arrest, assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a deadly weapon and parole violation. Perez was arrested on three counts of burglary and resisting arrest.

Tzimbal was for resisting arrest, possession of narcotics and burglary. He was eventually arrested but then made the for domestic violence and resisting arrest.

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