Florida Keys pursuit ends with driver jumping into ocean, sheriff’s office says
A man who took Florida Keys deputies on a high-speed chase ended up jumping into the ocean to get away after his tires were popped by a spike strip along U.S. 1, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Joshua Derek Guajardo, 40, sped up to 80 mph in a 55-mph zone, weaving in and out of traffic, and also nearly hit a patrol car before his Chevy Tahoe became disabled by the spike strip, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies first tried to stop Guajardo as he was heading north on the highway at mile marker 65 in Islamorada, Adam Linhardt, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said.
The sheriff’s office has a strict policy about chasing drivers so deputies ahead at mile markers 68 and 69 laid down the spike strips, deflating his tires, Linhardt said. The SUV came to a stop a mile farther, and Guajardo got out and ran into the mangroves on the oceanside of the highway, Linhardt said.
Deputies saw something that was in his hand and looked like it might be a gun so they and Florida Highway Patrol troopers shut down U.S. 1 in both directions until they were able to get him out of the water a few minutes later, Linhardt said. Deputies did not find a weapon, Linhardt added.
Guajardo was booked into a county jail on charges of driving under the influence, fleeing and eluding and driving with a suspended license. A judge had not yet set bond as of Thursday afternoon. Linhardt said he might face more charges. It was not immediately clear where Guajardo lives.
As well as FHP troopers, Linhardt said helicopter and boat crews from both the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, along with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, helped in the pursuit.
This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Florida Keys pursuit ends with driver jumping into ocean, sheriff’s office says."
