Wanted Victoria man arrested in U.S. after Coast Guard rescue, bizarre fish incident at 'Goonies' house
A man wanted in Victoria, B.C., is now in custody in the U.S. after a bizarre series of events, including a dramatic ocean rescue by the Coast Guard and the placing of a dead fish at the house made famous by the 1985 film "The Goonies."
On Jan. 19, Victoria police announced a B.C.-wide warrant had been issued for Jericho Labonte, who was wanted on charges of criminal harassment, mischief and three counts of failure to comply. On Friday night, he was arrested in Astoria, Ore.
Earlier that day, a crew with the U.S. Coast Guard was taking part in a training operation at the mouth of the Columbia River when they received a mayday call. That section of the ocean is known as “the graveyard of the Pacific” due to its notoriously rough seas.
Petty Officer Michael Clark said boat crews located a Sandpiper yacht taking on water with a man on board. The conditions were too dangerous to try retrieve the man by boat, so rescue swimmer Branch Walton was sent to grab him.
Just as Walton reached the vessel, it was hit by a massive wave, so powerful that the craft rolled over and ended up floating upright.
“I kinda got thrown around a little bit by the wave and when I came up I noticed that the boat was pretty much in shambles,” Walton said.
The man on board was pulled to safety and taken to hospital suffering mild hypothermia. The U.S. Coast Guard posted a picture of the rescue and the man was recognised as the same person wanted in connection to a bizarre incident at the "Goonies" house two days earlier.
A man with the name Jericho Labonte posted a video to Facebook showing himself placing a dead fish on the porch of the home. In the video, he can be heard saying, “Best $500 I ever spent, thanks British Columbia.” The incident was also captured by surveillance cameras.
By the time police realized Labonte was the man found by the Coast Guard, he had been discharged from hospital.
“Connections were being made that it was the same person and that he was at the hospital, and by the time we got involved, he had been released from the hospital,” Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly said, adding that the Sandpiper yacht was also reported stolen.
On Saturday, police said Labonte was taken into custody at a warming shelter.
Victoria police told CTV News in an email that they were still waiting for confirmation that the man in custody in Oregon was the same Labonte wanted in B.C.
It was later confirmed by Kelly in an email to CTV News.
“It is the same person,” he wrote. “An officer from Victoria has contacted one of our sergeants.”
Labonte’s charges in the U.S. include theft, endangering another person, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal mischief. It’s not yet known if he will be brought back to Canada.
With files from The Associated Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.