East Rockaway, United States - August 05, 2025 A suspected car thief tried to escape by diving into the water near East Rockaway Inlet, sparking a fierce struggle with NYPD officers, including a female detective. Detective Jacqueline Demerest, along with other officers from the 101st Precinct, immediately followed the suspect without hesitation. Body camera footage shows commands such as “Hey, stop there!” and “Stop now. Take my boat,” as officers plunged into the rocky waters to continue the pursuit. A physical fight broke out in the water as Detective Demerest and her colleagues wrestled the suspect to restrain him. After a tough struggle, the suspect, identified as Matthew Swafford, was subdued and arrested on the shore. Detective Demerest’s fearless actions highlight the NYPD’s dedication to protecting the community in dangerous situations. The officers’ swift response ended the chase safely, bringing the suspect into custody without further harm. keywords: nypd, femaleofficer, carthief, waterstruggle, eastrockawayinlet, policechase, arrest, matthewswafford, detectivejacquelinedemerest