Man arrested following carjacking, police chase in Cape Coral

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- A Fort Myers man who stole a police volunteer vehicle and led authorities on a chase Monday night resulting in a crash has been arrested, the Cape Coral Police Department said.

David Anthony Fernandes, 24, is facing multiple charges including DUI with property damage, criminal mischief and escape, car jacking, grand theft auto and battery.

Authorities say Fernandes was driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .113 when he caused a two-car traffic crash on the 4600 of Santa Barbara Boulevard. He was arrested for driving on a suspended license and placed in the backseat of a patrol car, CCPD said.

During the investigation, Fernandes was able to escape custody, Cape Coral police said.

“They frisked him, put him in the police car, and then after that he sat in the car for a few minutes,” said Mark Bassat who witnessed the arrest. “He moved the handcuffs from in back of him to in front of him, and then he kicked the window one time and then he looked around to see nobody was watching, and then kicked it two more times.”

Fernandes then got into a police volunteer vehicle that was parked nearby, police said.

“He hopped in and he gunned it and just sped all the way down the street and the cops were screaming and yelling,” said Micah Scott, another witness. “Then all the cops got in their cars and gunned it and started chasing after him.”

Police followed Fernandes, who was traveling at a high rate of speed and refused to stop, down Santa Barbara Boulevard to Cape Coral Parkway where he crashed into a concrete pole at SW 25th Place and Cape Coral Parkway West.

Fernandes sustained serious injuries in the crash and was trauma alerted to a local hospital, police said.

“Arrestees are to be observed. What we have to determine is if that was the case,” said Sgt. Dana Coston with CCPD. “Why wasn’t the arrestee being directly observed at that point?”

Fernandes wil be taken into custody once he is discharged from the hospital.