Los Angeles, Jan 11 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A suspected drunk driver believed he had escaped the law when he jumped into the sea and swam off. However he left a vital piece of “evidence” behind in the process.

The San Diego Police Department says the unnamed 28-year-old suspect was driving with a friend when the incident happened. After swimming off, the police turned to the friend who readily revealed the full identity along with the contact details of the suspect. The friend might have released the details out of concern for the life of the suspect.

Police say the man was stopped at the Pacific Beach but before the police could interact with him, he started running towards the sea. He jumped into the water at about 2:30am and started swimming. Officers say the water was at freezing temperatures when the suspect jumped in. Concerned for his life, the Lifeguards were dispatched to rescue him. A Coast Guard helicopter also joined in the search but it yielded no results.

The police later received information from the family that the suspect has contacted them.

Police spokeswoman Andra Brown told reporters that the family told the police that, “We ask that he call the San Diego Police Department so we know, indeed, that he is safe.”