FHP arrests homicide suspect in Lee County
Man had barricaded himself on I-75
State troopers took a man sought in a St. Petersburg homicide into custody following a standoff on I-75 that shut the highway down in Fort Myers Wednesday.
The takedown operation began at approximately 12:30 p.m. after Florida Highway Patrol received a Be On The Lookout alert from the FHP Regional Communications Center regarding a suspect believed to be suicidal and involved in a homicide.
Troopers located the suspect in Lee County and attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect fled.
A Precision Immobilization Technique, or PIT, maneuver was successfully executed near southbound Exit 128 at Alico Road on I-75 near Fort Myers.
“Despite this, the suspect refused to comply with lawful commands and barricaded himself inside his vehicle,” FHP said in a release.
State Troopers, along with Lee County Sheriff’s deputies who were also on scene, established contact with the suspect who was ultimately taken into custody.
“The suspect has been transported to the hospital with serious injuries. No law enforcement was injured on scene. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is on scene and will further investigate the Use of Control,” FPH said in the early evening release.
Footage posted online appeared to show shots fired during the confrontation between police and the suspect. Photographs of the truck were posted online with a badly damaged truck with bullet holes in the windshield. The truck was surrounded by police vehicles and a barricade.
Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Greg Bueno referred questions regarding the circumstances of the apparent gun shots fired during the incident, back to the press release which stated that the “Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the use of control.”
“State Troopers and law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect the people of this great state,” said FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner. “As this is an active criminal investigation, we will have no further comment, except to say how thankful I am for the heroism State Troopers display each and every day, including this very challenging and dangerous incident today. The entire Florida Highway Patrol is deeply thankful for the heroism and support Lee County Deputies provided in responding, as well.”