FMPD identifies person of interest in burglaries
This morning the Fort Myers Police Department conducted an undercover surveillance operation at 1755 Boy Scout Drive in response to a trend in vehicle burglaries. While on scene officers spotted a suspicious vehicle and then became witnesses to a burglary in progress.
Officers approached the suspect but he jumped back into his car and attempted ram a patrol car while fleeing the scene. Officers began pursuing the suspect northbound on Cleveland Avenue. At the intersection of Cleveland and Winkler Avenues the suspect drove his car in-between other cars stopped at the traffic light causing minor damage to three cars, police reported.
Due to the suspect’s recklessness and potential danger to the public, police ended the pursuit.
Officers have identified Arthur Lee Coleman Jr., 33, as a person of interest in the case. Police say the car he drove was a charcoal-gray Acura with dark tinted windows. The Acura matches the suspect vehicle in other burglaries, police said.
Last month the city experienced 28-vehicle burglaries in the West District, similar in nature, to the one witnessed by police today.
Anyone with information is asked to call FMPD at 321-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.