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Deputies search for driver of stolen car who took off running

Posted at 7:57 PM, Aug 08, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-09 08:49:28-04

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Deputies are searching for a suspect they believe stole a car in Fort Myers, Wednesday.

Deputies say the driver stole the car before abandoning it, then ran off on foot.

Lee County Sheriff's Deputies swarmed the area near Ortiz Avenue & Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard around 6:30 P.M., using K9 deputies and helicopters. Bystander Jared Dodson said every entrance to Ortiz Avenue was blocked. "They got dogs on the ground or something, so they couldn't let me through," he said. "I rode up to Benchmark and they got that blocked off also, so there's basically no way to get down there."

An employee at a junkyard on Benchmark Avenue said he saw a person jump over the wall and run through businesses in the area, saying he was in a car accident and 'running from the cops.'

He described that man as slim, and wearing colorful socks. It is unknown if LCSO has a suspect in custody.

Anyone with information on the name and current whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com [southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com] or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.