LEE COUNTY
The wild scene brought traffic to a standstill on I-75, just south of Alico Road in Lee County, on Wednesday.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, LCSO and the Cape Coral Police Department were working on a joint investigation that closed the interstate. Traffic was backed up on the southbound lanes of I-75, but has since reopened.
Cops and deputies were seen with guns in hand, K-9s on the ground and helicopters in the sky. Cape Coral Police and Lee County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene.
Cape Coral Police say the incident started at the Bank of America at 2536 Skyline Blvd. They said there will be an increased police presence there during the investigation. Police say this is an isolated incident.
There were many witnesses to what happened. When Linda Patti was stopped by police and deputy cars on southbound I-75, she immediately began recording on her phone.
“And suddenly they stop right there. And they drove him into a ditch with a car, and everyone jumped out. There must have been 20 cruisers. And they had guns, dogs, if there were helicopters, and then a helicopter landed on them. 75, and there was another one running around. And then the sheriff’s office came and drove around the Florida patrol cars,” Patti said.
Patti believes that some sort of chase ended when the driver sped off, crashing into a ditch.
The scene scared her. “I don’t think they send 20 cruises on two helicopters when you have a speeding ticket,” Patti said.
Patty’s video shows the helicopter landing right on I-75. She does not know whether there were more deputies or policemen on board the helicopter.
“It was a fleet chase. It was in my rear view mirror. And then, like I said, when I stopped, they stopped right there. They got him. And they just, I mean, by the time they pulled him over, I guess it was probably 25 police cars,” Patti said.
Patti said she didn’t think the medical helicopter landed because she said police officers and sheriff’s deputies easily confronted the suspect and took him into custody. “And then they grabbed the guy, whoever he was, white male, Caucasian. I think 50, 60, this guy. And then they started looking for them. Put them in the cruiser. »
Cape Coral police said one person was taken into custody but did not release more information about the suspect.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
