Cops: Suspect in burglary fished out of Freeport canal

A Freeport man suspected in a bar burglary tried to swim his way out of arrest Saturday, only to be caught by detectives who got a lift from a cooperative boater, police said.

Nassau County police said they arrested Nikolas Balalaos, 26, who ran off on foot and then jumped into a canal between Anchor Street and Dock Drive in Freeport at about 11:50 a.m.

Balalaos was walking near Atlantic and Westend avenues when First Squad detectives working on an unrelated case recognized him as a suspect in a burglary at DQ Sports Bar, 382 Atlantic Ave., on April 11, police said.

When detectives attempted to stop him, Balalaos fled, "initiating a foot pursuit," police said."

Police found him swimming in the canal, south toward Baldwin Bay. A boat owner offered detectives a lift, and they arrested Balalaos in the rear of a home on Eastern Boulevard without incident.

No injuries were reported.

Balalaos, also of 382 Atlantic Ave. -- police said he lived upstairs from the bar he allegedly burglarized -- was arraigned Sunday on a charge of third-degree robbery. He is being held on bail of $20,000 cash, $10,000 bond and is due to back at First District Court in Hempstead on Wednesday.

Police also said he had an open warrant in Nassau County for criminal possession of a controlled substance.