Man accused of dumping diesel fuel into North Fort Myers retention pond

Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published: Updated:
A man was arrested after deputies say he was seen dumping diesel fuel into a North Fort Myers retention pond on Saturday morning.
Jean Eloi, 59. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

A man was arrested after deputies say he was seen dumping diesel fuel into a North Fort Myers retention pond on Saturday morning.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Jean Eloi, 59, was arrested after deputies responded to a call from the Bayshore Fire Department around 9:30 a.m. The captain told LCSO that firefighters were dispatched to a fuel spill where a semi-truck driver was draining his tanks.

Firefighters asked the driver, Eloi, if he dumped the fuel into the retention pond, because a sheen could be seen on the water. Eloi said he was draining the fuel into containers, only to produce two black oil change containers that were empty. He then said he dumped it into the retention area while he was trying to fix his truck.

Three other witnesses told LCSO they say Eloi draining diesel fuel into the retention pond, one even telling him to stop and being ignored. Deputies made contact with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. A DEP officer said the damage done to the retention pond could be a lot worse, but the extent will not be known until a clean-up company starts work. He said that the fuel seemed to have stopped on the property and did not get to the Caloosahatchee River.

Deputies did not know how much fuel was in Eloi’s two tanks but observed the total gallons for both tanks were approximately 240 gallons. A.C.T. Environment and Infrastructure said the amount of damage was around $20,000 or more.

Eloi faces charges of dumping/littering (500 lbs or more) without a permit and criminal mischief –$1,000 or more. He was transported to the Lee County Jail without incident.

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