May 15--A naked man unwillingly rescued by Redondo Beach lifeguards Thursday night after leading police on a short chase had recently been hearing voices, police said.
Officers first saw the suspect, in his early 40s, running a red light in the area of Catalina Avenue and Emerald Street about 10 p.m., according to Redondo Beach police Sgt. Mario Fizulich.
Officers activated their lights and sirens, but the suspect, whose name was not released, didn't stop, instead turning down toward the pier. The car, with the suspect's mother inside, then hit a curb and damaged a fence.
The suspect took off running down the sand into the water and when Harbor Patrol was unable to get him into a patrol boat, lifeguards came to assist and swam him back to shore, Fizulich said.
Although the suspect was fully clothed when he exited the vehicle, he was naked when taken out of the water.
"I'm not quite sure how that happened," Fizulich said.
The suspect's mother told police her son wasn't under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but that he had been hearing voices the last couple of days, Fizulich said. The voices were telling him the world was coming to an end, she told police.
The man was taken to a hospital, where he underwent a psychiatric evaluation, Fizulich said.
He is being charged with a hit and run, Fizulich said.
