CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Police say the man arrested for Sunday night's robbery at a Cape Coral 7-Eleven was out on probation for a previous robbery.
John Douglas Smith was arrested for the hold-up at the store at 1526 Chiquita Blvd. S that happened after 9 p.m. Sunday.
Police say he entered the store and demanded money before going behind the counter and engaged in "a hostile rant" with a store employee. Customers inside the store called 911, prompting Smith to leave the store in a silver Honda sedan.
An officer was able to track down the car matching a license plate number provided by a witness and attempted a traffic stop. However, Smith allegedly continued onto I-75, only to be stopped by spike strips near mile marker 151. Police say Charlotte County deputies assisted in stopping Smith.
Upon running his information, police learned Smith was on probation and supervised release for a previous robbery. He was re-arrested and charged with robbery, eluding police, intimidation and violation of probation.
Bond was set at $60,000 for the new offense. Smith has been ordered to avoid the victims involved and to stay away from the store.
