Wanted Victoria man arrested after dramatic U.S. Coast Guard rescue of stolen yacht

A Victoria man wanted on a B.C.-wide warrant has been arrested in Oregon after a dramatic rescue of a yacht caught in the rough, churning waters of the Columbia River.

Jericho Labonte is wanted by police for harassment, mischief and failure to comply from an incident in Victoria last October. Last month, Victoria police issued an alert seeking the public’s assistance in locating the 36-year-old, who they believe posed a risk to public safety.

But Labonte turned up in northwestern Oregon, leaving a bizarre trail involving dead fish, the Goonies’ house, and a stolen yacht.

On Friday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a mayday call from a yacht in trouble at the mouth of the Columbia River and managed to triangulate the vessel’s location.

The rescue was captured in a stunning video which shows a rescue swimmer lowered by cable from a helicopter, swimming to the yacht struggling in heavy surf and massive waves.