A welfare check in Florida quickly turned into something much bigger. Deputies ended up chasing a man, searching a backyard, and pulling him from a canal known for snakes and alligators.
Many people online are asking the same question: Why would anyone jump into that canal?
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened on July 3. The law enforcement agency explained the situation on their official social media handles.
Deputies said they found 47-year-old Ryan McMinn of Palm Coast lying shirtless on the ground outside Wadsworth Elementary School during a welfare check.
The sheriff’s office said McMinn ran away when a deputy approached him.
A few minutes later, the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center received a call from a resident. The caller reported that a man was crawling through their backyard and trying to climb the side of their house.
Deputies found McMinn near a canal behind the home. They asked if he needed help. Instead, the sheriff’s office said, he ran into the canal.
The sheriff’s office said the canal is known to have snakes and alligators. McMinn ignored repeated orders to come out and stayed in the water and continued treading.
According to the sheriff’s office and body camera footage, he began showing signs of exhaustion after about an hour. Two deputies then entered the canal to pull him to safety.
McMinn reportedly fought with the deputies once they reached him. Officials said he pushed and pulled to break free. They also said he tried to push one deputy’s head underwater and grabbed another deputy by the neck.
Deputies eventually gained control of his arms and brought him to shore. Flagler County Fire Rescue treated him at the scene. He was then taken to AdventHealth Palm Coast, where he was medically cleared.
McMinn was arrested on two felony counts of battery on a law enforcement officer. According to the sheriff’s office, he was booked into a Florida jail on a $5,000 bond.
Internet Reacts to Florida Canal Arrest
Some commenters could only focus on the wildlife angle. “There is 100% an alligator in there how did he not get bit,” one person wrote. Others criticized the deputies’ handling of the encounter, arguing the situation escalated unnecessarily. “‘You’re not in trouble!’ The last thing you hear before doing MONTHS in county lockup,” one commenter joked.
Another person questioned whether the arrest was justified, writing, “So you harassed him until he had enough of you and then you charged him for reacting. It seems legit.”
Some also took issue with the deputies’ messaging during the incident. “You’re not in trouble, but we’re gonna put handcuffs on you and take it to jail anyway is that the way Flagler does welfare checks?” one commenter asked.
Not everyone sympathized with McMinn, however. “Should have left him there in the canal,” one commenter wrote, reflecting the harsher reaction.
For now, McMinn remains in custody as the case moves through the Florida court system.
Meanwhile, the video continues to gain views from people surprised that everyone made it out of the canal without being bitten or drowning.
