FMPD: Woman in hospital gown arrested near Lee Memorial after stealing SUV, breaking into home

A Fort Myers woman has been arrested after police say she stole an SUV, struck several other vehicles and broke into a home early Tuesday morning.

Darryell Washington, 24, faces charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle, battery on EMTs and leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to property.

The Fort Myers Police Department responded to the 1900 block of Llewellyn Drive at around 2:30 a.m. following a 911 hangup.

Witnesses said they saw Washington going around in a hospital gown, screaming and entering people’s porches.

Fort Myers police said Washington stole a tan SUV near Lee Memorial Hospital, striking some other vehicles in the process.

Officers found the crashed, unoccupied SUV at a home on Hanson Street a short time later after it struck a wall.

K-9 units were searching for Washington when police received a 911 call came from the 3700 block of Highland Avenue to report a woman had entered a home by breaking a window.

Washington was found and detained at the home and once again taken to Lee Memorial for treatment.

The vehicle that was stolen wasn’t just any vehicle. It was going to be given to a 16-year-old girl as a birthday present.

“The whole family is devastated, frightened, disappointed today,” said Gena Cleaves. “When I saw her mug shot, I was instantly overwhelmed with Oh, my God, one person can do so much damage to innocent, wonderful, loving people who are sleeping and doing nothing but trying to get a car to their 16-year-old granddaughter tomorrow for her surprise birthday present.”

Now, they’re just left with the pink bow they were going to put on top of the car.

“We’re just so glad we will get through all this,” Cleaves said. “They will celebrate … They’ll prevail. And I know, I know as God as my witness, that that little baby girl, even though she’s 16, she’s still a baby in my view, that she will get the car that she was supposed to have.”