Two suspected human smugglers fled when a U.S. Coast Guard vessel approached them 4.5 miles south of Point Loma, resulting in a pursuit that ended with both suspects in custody and one injured.

Personnel aboard the Coast Guard cutter Sea Otter detected the high-performance water scooter crossing into U.S. waters and sent a boat crew to intercept it, the USCG public affairs said Thursday, a day after the incident.

Spotting the vessel, the pilot of the water scooter accelerated at about 5:45 a.m. Wednesday, “conducting erratic and dangerous maneuvers,” the Coast Guard said. The crew gave chase.

During the pursuit, the USCG personnel fired two flashbang-style stun grenades in an attempt to gain the suspects’ compliance, leaving one of them with an arm injury, according to the agency.

The

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