Suspect Who Jumped into Industrial Canal Identified as 28-Year-Old Dandre Dales

NEW ORLEANS – A dramatic police pursuit ended Wednesday when 28-year-old Dandre Dales jumped into the Industrial Canal near the St. Claude Avenue Bridge following a crash involving a stolen vehicle.

According to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to stop a stolen gray Nissan Sentra in Chalmette, near the intersection of St. Bernard Highway and Palmisano Boulevard. The car had been reported stolen out of Orleans Parish.

Despite spike strips being deployed, Dales fled into Orleans Parish, crashed the vehicle on the St. Claude Bridge, exited on foot, and leapt into the water.

The bridge was shut down for several hours as law enforcement from multiple agencies — including St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, NOPD, Louisiana State Police, U.S. Coast Guard, and New Orleans Harbor Police — responded to the scene.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts, Dales was safely pulled from the water and taken into custody. He now faces charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and flight from an officer, in addition to an outstanding warrant from Jefferson Parish for unauthorized use of a movable. Deputies also recovered a firearm thrown from the car during the chase.

The investigation remains ongoing.