An incident began early Sunday, around 2:30 a.m. when a Collier County Sheriff's Office deputy noticed a black Hyundai with a loud, modified exhaust system. After attempting a traffic stop near Osprey's Landing, the driver, identified as 34-year-old Jose Enmanuel Romerofat, sped off, prompting a vehicle pursuit.
Romerofat, who had two passengers in his Uber, reached speeds of up to 120 mph as he led deputies westbound on Davis Boulevard. The chase continued through several intersections, where Romerofat disregarded traffic lights.
Deputies successfully deployed stop sticks near the intersection of Davis Boulevard and Airport Road, puncturing the Hyundai's front right tire. Despite this, Romerofat continued to evade officers, reaching speeds of up to 109 mph before making a final turn onto Goodlette-Frank Road.
The chase ended at the entrance to Bayfront Naples, where Romerofat exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. A deputy used a taser and quickly apprehended him.
A background check revealed that Romerofat had a history of arrests for driving without a valid license, with previous incidents occurring in July 2022, Sept. 2022, and Dec. 2023. He had been on probation until April of this year.
Romerofat now faces multiple charges, including fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with lights and sirens active, resisting law enforcement without violence, and driving without a valid driver’s license.
He was transported to Naples Jail Center without incident and is being held on a total bond of $14,000.