Authorities say a body found in a canal in Lauderdale Lakes this week was a suspected car burglar who crashed a stolen vehicle while trying to flee from a deputy.
The body of 25-year-old De'Andre Belim Jr. was recovered from the canal near Northwest 31st Avenue and Northwest 39th Street Monday morning, two days after the vehicle he was driving crashed into the canal, Broward Sheriff's Office officials said.
Authorities said a deputy had seen Belim trying to break into cars just before 4 a.m. Saturday in the area of 117 Lake Emerald Drive and tried to stop Belim on foot but Belim ran away and fled the scene in a Ford Escape.
Minutes later, authorities received word that a vehicle was sinking in the canal. BSO divers and an aviation team responded to the scene and searched the canal but no one was found.
Detectives later determined Belim lost control of the car, which hit a utility box and guardrail before it went airborne and landed in the canal. It was also determined that the Escape had been reported stolen in Lauderdale Lakes on Thursday.
The incident remains under investigation.
