The Coast Guard and the Lee County Sheriff's Office pursued a stolen boat across the Gulf of Mexico Friday.
Sheriff Mike Scott says three suspects stole a 36 foot boat moored near Old Pelican Bay Drive in Ft. Myers Beach early Thursday morning. A patrol boat gave chase and was almost rammed by the boat according to authorities.
Deputies pursued the boat into the gulf, before calling for back-up, the chase spanned 345 miles.
"We actually had a helicopter up in the air that night, and then once they got out past the state waters, we contacted our folks out at Air Station Clearwater," said USCG Commander Randy Brown.
Three Coast Guard aircraft, along with the Cutter William Trump were deployed. They eventually caught up with the stolen vessel 125 miles East of Cancun Mexico. The suspects were overcome by rough seas, and surrendered peacefully Friday.
"I'm sure that almost after 20 hours of 30 plus knots and 5 to even 8 foot seas, that they were pretty beat up and ready to stop," said Brown.
David Vazquez of Miami, Raul Delavega-Sauri of Homestead, and Vidal Benhur Ramirez-Farfan of Mexico were booked into the Lee County Jail Sunday.
"While most people were taking their last sip of egg nog, or finishing up a few Christmas cookies, or starting to open some gifts, when these men and women were out protecting the community chasing these bad guys," said Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott.
Sheriff Scott says the stolen boat is valued at $350,000 and was properly secured before being stolen.
