Suspect Caught After Attempting to Swim Away from Huntington Beach Police
Stolen Vehicle Suspect Attempts Escape by Ocean in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach, Calif. — A routine traffic stop turned into a dramatic police chase Sunday night when a suspect in a stolen vehicle fled into the Pacific Ocean to evade capture.
At approximately 10 p.m. on February 1, 2026, an officer attempted to pull over a vehicle for a traffic violation, only to discover it had been reported stolen. The driver, identified as 42-year-old Eric Gregory Hoppenstand, initially stopped but soon accelerated, leading officers through downtown streets and onto the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Huntington Beach Police Department deployed its helicopter, HB1, to monitor the pursuit while ground units used spike strips to disable the vehicle. Despite the flattened tires, the chase continued until a pursuing officer executed a Precision Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver to bring the vehicle to a stop. Hoppenstand and his passenger, 36-year-old Alysha Marie Turner, exited the car and fled on foot.
Turner was apprehended immediately, but Hoppenstand ran toward the beach and into the water. Spotlit by the helicopter, he eventually surrendered at the shoreline.
A spokesperson for the Huntington Beach Police Department emphasized the unusual choice of escape route. “The driver ran toward the beach and went straight into the ocean, apparently forgetting that the beach closes at 10 p.m.,” the spokesperson noted. The department also reminded the public that “the beach is not an escape route, especially after hours.”
Both suspects were booked into the Huntington Beach jail. Hoppenstand faces a total of 12 charges, including vehicle theft, felony evading with wanton disregard for safety, and grand theft. Turner is charged with vehicle theft, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and theft with prior convictions.
