Police drag man from water after allegedly refusing to pay $600 food bill

Dramatic footage has emerged of Gold Coast police wrestling a man out of the water after he allegedly racked up a $621 restaurant bill and jumped in the ocean instead of paying.
Terry Peck, 33, managed to evade police for two hours in the battering waves before he was dragged back to shore after fleeing Omeros Bros Seafood Restaurant.
Three officers struggled to pin the restaurant runaway down on the sand as he fought them every step of the way.
Concerned for Peck's safety because of the amount of alcohol he had consumed, lifeguards towed police officers on the back of jet skis to him, police said.
But the unemployed parolee denies he fled the restaurant to avoid paying his hefty bill, and instead jumped in the water to help his friend who was 'having a baby' on the beach, 9 News reported.
'My friend was over at the beach and she was having a baby,' he said.
'[I would have paid] if I found my wallet, but I lost everything.'
He also said the restaurant should be apologising to him and claims his lobster was overcooked.
Peck allegedly tucked into a $621 meal at Omeros Bros Seafood Restaurant on Sunday evening, including two lobster mornays, 21 oyster shooters, baby octopus and drinks.
But when it came time to pay the bill, Peck allegedly ran from staff straight into the surf at Main Beach.
Lifeguards then took police out on the back of jet skis to retrieve him from the water.
Officers allegedly attempted to negotiate with Peck to come back to shore but he refused, forcing them to jump in the sea to arrest him.
Peck faced Southport Magistrates Court on Monday charged with stealing and two counts of seriously assaulting a police officer.
He was released on bail and is due back in court on May 4.