New details are emerging about a chaotic high-speed chase in Estero Tuesday, after an undercover drug investigation took a dangerous turn.
It began on Lyden Drive near U.S. 41 and Coconut Road, where narcotics detectives attempted to arrest Litray Bell, 28, during a drug investigation.
Bell somehow managed to jump into his PT Cruiser and speed away. According to a report from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Bell tried to run down one of the detectives, striking him in the knee, but not before the detective shot and wounded Bell in the arm.
The report states that Bell then police on a wild chase through Estero, crashing into three vehicles along the way, and pointing a gun at deputies who were in pursuit. The chase took deputies east on Coconut Road, north on Three Oaks Parkway, then east on Corkscrew Road. The report states that Bell's vehicle ended up on rural Burgundy Farms Drive, where he entered a home and holed himself up while a Lee County Sheriff's Office helicopter circled overhead.
One neighbor, who didn't want to be identified, said SWAT officers took up position on her property.
"They were all in black and came up my driveway, and told me to go in my house and they'd let me know when it's all clear," she said.
She said they were there for about 20 minutes. The report says that Bell came out of the house and was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital to be treated for his gunshot wound.
Why Bell chose the home on Burgundy Farms Drive is unclear.
Bell faces a number of charges, including aggravated battery and assault. He was previously arrested in July 2016 for aggravated fleeing and eluding.
The deputy that was struck in the knee during the initial arrest attempt is recovering with minor injuries.
