Cape teen charged with street racing, possession of alcohol by a minor
A Cape Coral teen was charged by city police Wednesday night with street racing and possession of alcohol by a minor.
According to a Cape Coral Police Department report, at around 10:30 p.m., May 6, a traffic officer was patrolling near the 1900 block of Veterans Memorial Parkway, East, when he observed three vehicles appearing to engage in a street race. As the vehicles traveled west, the officer reported he saw them following too closely, making unsafe lane changes, speeding and aggressively maneuvering through traffic.
Radar showed one of the vehicles traveling 85 mph in a posted 50 mph zone.
The officer activated his emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop.
The report states that the driver of the stopped vehicle was identified through his Florida driver’s license as Culel Shirley, 19, of Southeast 5th Street in Cape Coral. The officer advised Shirley of the reason for the stop and began an investigation.
Based on the investigation, the officer determined Shirley was actively participating in a street race with two other vehicles. He was arrested and charged with one count of street racing.
While Shirley was being placed into the patrol vehicle, according to the report he asked the officer to retrieve his wallet from a black bag inside his vehicle. Inside the same bag, the officer observed two unopened cans of Nutrl alcoholic beverages. Because Shirley’s wallet was stored inside the same bag as the alcohol, the officer established probable cause to charge him with possession of alcohol by a minor. The officer also observed an empty Nutrl can inside the vehicle.
Shirley was transported to the Lee County Jail on one count of street racing and one count of possession of alcohol by a minor. As of this morning, his bond had not yet been set.