Latest news with #Swafford


Fox News
6 days ago
- Fox News
Female police officer leaps into water, fights career criminal before making arrest, video shows
A dramatic video captured a female New York City police officer leaping into the water and fighting a career criminal before bringing him into custody. The NYPD hailed the actions of the brave officer, describing how she and her colleagues made bold moves in the arrest of suspected car thief Matthew Swafford in Queens on Aug. 5. Swafford "didn't count on our dedicated NYPD 101 Precinct officers following him without hesitation, putting duty before danger," the department wrote on X as it released footage showing the female officer removing her gear before jumping into the water and engaging in a hand-to-hand struggle with Swafford. The agency told Fox News Digital that the arrest of Swafford unfolded after responding officers "received information from the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol that they had located a black 2025 Honda sedan, which was reported stolen. "A canvass was conducted, and the 29-year-old male driver was located nearby. The male, in an attempt to flee the location, jumped off a dock and into the East Rockaway Inlet," the NYPD said in a statement. "Officers pursued the male into the water and successfully affected the arrest. Additional officers arrived on scene along with FDNY EMS and Park's Department Lifeguards and safely brought the male to shore without any further incidents," it added. Footage released by authorities began with Swafford jumping into the water. "I got a perp that just jumped in the water," one officer is heard saying into his police radio. The female officer then leapt into the water in pursuit of Swafford. The video showed the female officer and Swafford engaging in a struggle, with the NYPD saying "the suspect began fighting with officers when approached." He was eventually brought into custody. Swafford, described by police as a recidivist, was charged with Grand Larceny Auto, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle and Obstructing Governmental Administration.


New York Post
11-08-2025
- New York Post
NYPD bodycam shows fearless cops plunging into water after alleged car thief
New NYPD bodycam video shows the moment a fearless pair of cops jumps into the water off the Rockaways – on the tail of an alleged Queens car thief who made the plunge to avoid arrest. The tense footage shows suspect Matthew Swafford, 24, walking along a dock and plunging into the East Rockaway inlet Thursday afternoon – despite demands from a female officer to 'Stop there!' The determined cop begins removing her gear from her department belt as her male colleague radios for help from the department's Harbor Unit. Seconds later, the female officer jumps into the water after Swafford – only for him to flail his arms and push her under the water, according to the footage and a criminal complaint. 4 With cops moments away from placing alleged car thief Matthew Swafford in cuffs last week, he plunges into the East Rockaway Inlet, authorities said. NYPD The male cop soon joins his colleague in the water, and both bring the suspect to shore. Swafford, who has a slew of prior arrests – including involving a slew of stolen vehicles – was immediately led away in cuffs. 'We went through all of this for a stolen car?' the female officer chided Swafford, according to a criminal complaint. He replied, 'Yeah, I know, it was stupid,' according to the court docs. 4 A determined NYPD cop removes her gear from her belt and jumps into the water after the suspect. NYPD The officers, assigned to the 101 Precinct's Public Safety Team, had been responding at the time to Beach 8th Street and Seagirt Avenue on reports of a stolen vehicle that had been recovered, authorities said. Members of the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol informed the officers that they'd found a black 2025 Honda sedan, which was stolen June 28, police said. The cops launched their search for the suspect, which ultimately took the unexpected turn into the inlet, authorities said. 'A suspected car thief tried to make his escape by diving into the water,' the NYPD posted on X alongside the video. 'He didn't count on our dedicated @NYPD101Pct officers following him without hesitation, putting duty before danger. 4 The accused car thief puts up a fight, but the fearless cops manage to bring him to shore. NYPD 'Their quick action ended the chase safely, bringing him onto shore, and into custody.' Swafford was arraigned Friday on charges of criminal possession of stolen property, attempted forgery of a vehicle identification, unauthorized use of a vehicle, obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest, prosecutors said. He was ordered held on $15,000 cash bail or $45,000 bond by Judge Glenda Hernandez. Swafford's most recent prior arrest occurred June 29, when cops caught him with two other stolen vehicles – a 2018 Kawasaki motorcycle and a 2017 Honda Civic, according to that criminal complaint. In that case, bail was set at $4,000 cash and $12,000 bond. 4 Swafford has several prior arrests — his most recent in June when police found him with two other stolen vehicles, court docs say. NYPD Swafford was previously busted April 22 in possession of three other stolen vehicles – a Honda sedan, a Honda minivan and a BMW sedan, according to that court filing. He was ordered held on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond in that case. It was not immediately clear how or when he ended up posting bail, but he is due back in court for both cases Aug. 21. He will reappear in court in connection to last week's bust Oct. 22. Swafford's rap sheet also includes a 2020 bust for first-degree robbery and separate 2017 arrests for assault on a police officer and misdemeanor assault, sources said.


Newsweek
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
LIV Golf Star Reveals 'Fractured' PGA Tour System After 5-Year Ban Shocker
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. For years, there has been a lingering question in professional golf: What happens when LIV Golf pros want to find their way back to the PGA Tour? Would they be welcomed? Penalized? Or quietly reinstated under new terms? Hudson Swafford, a 37-year-old ex-LIV Golf pro and three-time PGA Tour winner, appears to have found the answer the hard way. The American golfer recently appeared on the "Subpar" podcast and revealed that he's been handed a five-year suspension by the PGA Tour, barring him from competition until 2027. The decision, he says, came after months of silence and uncertainty from Tour officials. PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, looks on during the trophy presentation after the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass... PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, looks on during the trophy presentation after the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 17, 2025 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by) More Getty Images Swafford, who joined LIV Golf in its inaugural 2022 season, played all seven events that year and returned last year (2024) as one of two wildcards. Unfortunately for him, despite competing in all 14 tournaments last year, he finished 55th in the individual standings and ultimately failed to qualify through LIV Promotions. With his contract expired and no playing rights on either tour, Swafford attempted to return to the PGA Tour last season. But the response wasn't what he expected. "I know they're basing that on a couple of people's contracts being up after the '26 season," Swafford told "Subpar" hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz. "So then they can kind of change rules in favor of everybody coming back." "I know some guys who didn't have any status on the PGA Tour, it's a hard one-year (suspension), not PGA Tour-sanctioned events, but then you can come back and play," he added during the same interview. "But problem is if I come in and talk to them, it's like, 'OK, I can come back and play in '27 (2027), but what does '27 on the PGA Tour really look like?' The ex-LIV Golf pro believes the timing of the suspension is no coincidence According to Swafford, several high-profile LIV contracts, including those of Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, are set to expire at the end of 2026, and the PGA Tour may be positioning itself to reintegrate top talent under revised rules. PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 02: Hudson Swafford gestures during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational - Mayakoba at El Camaleon at Mayakoba on February 02, 2024 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo... PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 02: Hudson Swafford gestures during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational - Mayakoba at El Camaleon at Mayakoba on February 02, 2024 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by) More Getty Images Still, he's skeptical about what the PGA Tour will even look like after these five years. "They're already reducing fields. So I would go ahead and bet and say that the past champions category is pretty much done going forward after this year." "We can agree or disagree, but it just seems like that and they've kind of told me," Swafford expressed on Subpar. The 37-year-old pro's journey with LIV wasn't without controversy. He was part of the 11-player antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour in 2022, alongside Talor Gooch and Matt Jones. Their request to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs was denied, and all parties eventually withdrew. The legal battle ended with the 2023 framework agreement, but tensions between the tours, as seen, remain unresolved. "We knew there would be some repercussions," Swafford said in the podcast, later posted on YouTube. "Didn't know how long. I didn't think it would be this fractured this long." He continued, "I still think it needs to come together. I don't know how it's going to come together. As a golf fan, you want to see the best playing together. I don't think this fracture is good for the game. But on the flip side, the PGA Tour needed to be shanked up a bit." Even Rory McIlroy, once LIV's fiercest critic, admitted earlier this year that the PGA Tour should've been more open-minded in its approach to the LIV Golf deal. His comments, made during an interview at "How Leaders Lead with David Novak" podcast, echoed the growing sentiment that the sport's division has dragged on too long. Swafford voiced frustration with LIV's decision to withdraw its OWGR application LIV Golf withdrew the OWGR application under former chairman Greg Norman's reign. The application was filed again by the Saudi-backed club under Scott O' Neil before this year's Masters. "We came over here on the consensus that you were going to fight for us... and then we just throw our hands up like 'oh well, we didn't get it.' That's kind of bull----," Swafford exclaimed in front of Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz. He recalled a conversation with Peter Dawson, former OWGR chairman, who supported LIV's global reach but questioned its credibility due to the lack of a clear relegation system. "He said 'If there was a true cut-off and everybody abided by those rules and you had to go to like a Q-School, then the talks would be real.' "He said 'LIV is not personally for me' because he's a traditional golf guy, but he goes 'I love that there's new competition and that it's travelling around the world.' According to reports, LIV CEO Scott O'Neil expects negotiations to begin soon, though upfront payments will no longer be part of new deals. Whether the PGA Tour will revise its stance by then remains to be seen. More Golf: 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship: odds, predictions for the playoff opener


Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Boy, 15, accused of horrific crimes against non-verbal 7-year-old on school bus
A 15-year-old Indiana teen has been formally accused of raping a 7-year-old non-verbal second grade student while the two were on the school bus. The family of the Jennings County second grader has since announced plans to sue Jennings County School Corporation claiming their young son was raped repeatedly by an older student while riding on the school bus. The harrowing alleged incident happened on April 16 on a bus designated for students with special needs, the Jennings County Juvenile Probation Department confirmed. 'The victim is a non-verbal special education student who was improperly seated directly next to a much older 15-year-old student and was helplessly left unmonitored by two school employees who were on the bus and charged with caring for his safety,' Laura Swafford, an attorney for the second grade student's family, said. The alleged assaults were recorded by at least one camera inside the school bus, according to court documents. 'Video camera footage later downloaded from inside the bus shows that, on multiple occasions, the victim was sexually assaulted and raped, but neither the Corporation's bus driver nor the extra bus monitor employee did anything to stop the assaults,' Swafford added. Now, the Jennings County School Corporation is undergoing an extensive review of security footage, from the entire school year, to learn whether there have been additional, unreported incidents. The alleged incident happened on April 16 on a bus designated for students with special needs, the Jennings County Juvenile Probation Department confirmed. Pictured: Sand Creek Elementary School, one of six elementary schools within the school corporation Both the victim and the alleged rapist are juveniles and have not been publicly identified. On Tuesday, the 15-year-old alleged rapist appeared at the Jennings County Circuit Court for a hearing that was closed to the public, WTHR13 reported. Days earlier, on April 25, the Jennings County School Corporation released a statement, claiming the school corporation is now 'increasing safety protocols.' North Vernon, where the approximately 3,800 student school corporation is located, is roughly 70 miles southeast of Indianapolis. 'This nightmare tragedy should never have happened,' Swafford said. The Indianapolis-based attorney went on to raise questions as to the awareness of the school's staff and their 'ability to protect their young.' 'How could both the bus driver and the additional bus monitor-aid not notice anything? Like all parents in the community, the boy's family believed the school would protect their young, vulnerable son. The family entrusted the school to protect their son by monitoring activity on the bus. The school system breached this trust and clearly failed in its responsibility,' the lawyer added. Swafford has since filed a tort claim - the legal first step to filing a lawsuit against the North Vernon school corporation. 'The tort claim alleges that the Jennings County School Corporation was grossly negligent, violated the child's civil rights, and caused him permanent injuries and damages,' Swafford said. 'The victim's family is hoping that this claim and its publicity will help prevent such a tragedy from happening to another child while sending a powerful message that all schools should be held accountable for the safety and protection of their students, particularly the most vulnerable disabled children.' On Tuesday, the district Superintendent Nicole Johnson released a statement addressing the alleged incident. 'We are aware of the legal filing connected to very concerning incidents that allegedly occurred on one of our special transportation buses, and we will respond to this filing through the appropriate legal channels. We cannot go into any detail about this situation because we are cooperating with an active police investigation and additionally are involved in this litigation. I want to emphasize, though, that these reports involving students' safety have been heartbreaking and devastating to all of us. Nothing is more important than the safety of our students. While this incident must still be investigated and resolved through our criminal justice system, we are taking steps to try to better ensure the safety of our students,' Johnson's statement concluded. The North Vernon Police Department confirmed that the 15-year-old suspect is being held in a juvenile detention center. He has reportedly been charged with one count of rape.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Celebrity chef, others at Oakland Hills food event, invest in private security
OAKLAND, Calif. - Sunshine, live music, and an array of food and beverage tastings brought people out Tuesday evening for the Taste of Montclair Village. The event was a way to support local businesses in this small community in Oakland. It also was part of a larger strategy for supporting small business owners and raise funds. At Kakui Sushi restaurant, Chef Ole Souvannavong was preparing some of the featured sushi and appetizers they'll be serving up, including their signature brussel sprouts. "It makes everybody come together. That's what we love about it. Something like this happens and everybody shows up," Souvannavong said. Blocks away, at Daughter's Thai Kitchen, we met Celebrity chef Kasem Saengsawang, who is the newly crowned champion of the Food Network's Chopped Thai Takedown. He showed us his vegan egg rolls, rice salad and tom yum soup for the event. The chef has two Oakland restaurants and says for small businesses, it is a battle to survive amidst the waves of crime. "We call the local officer to make sure that we expect our clients are going to be on the weekend, so they can stop by and check frequently," Saengsawang said. The Montclair Village Association is doing what it can by having security cameras on every block, and private security guards who patrol the area. On April 2nd, there was a shooting in Montclair. The Montclair Village Association Executive Director Daniel Swafford says the camera system worked, and recorded the suspect's vehicle and license plate. "They found the vehicle and ID within 90 minutes," Swafford said. Police arrested a juvenile suspect. Merchants were glad to see their camera system is working. But the police need to be able to respond. "They have to be able to take those flags or hits when a vehicle does pop up and pursue and detain. And sometimes that's where the gap is occurring," Swafford said. The cameras have caught other vehicles linked to smash-and-grab thieves. Swafford showed another example that he said had been reported to the police. Citizen vigilance is key, to stopping rings of robbers, Swafford said. Another important factor is that citizens need to file reports. In order for police and the district attorney to have a case. "The victim has to be proactive in calling the police to make sure that a crime is reported, whether it is to an officer or online, so there's something we can associate these images with," Swafford said. "It greatly impacts us," said Eagle Harper, General Manager of Farmstead Cheese and Wines. Harper says he hopes the city and community will work together more. "Coming together as a united front helps establish that we are looking out for each other," Harper said. The Montclair Village Association has two more events planned. First a Pinic in the Plaza event on April 26 and then an Art Walk on May 4. Along with the food and music, you can bet that the security cameras will be rolling.