A convicted felon on probation has been accused of running away from a traffic stop, attempting to escape Charlotte County deputies through a drainage pipe.
On Friday, the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office said they received a call from a homeowner who reported that he had just chased a thief out of his garage.
According to the caller, the suspect, later identified as Thomas Maldonado, 52, loaded a chainsaw, a weed eater and a leaf blower into a truck.
The caller noted the truck's license plate number which he shared with deputies, along with a suspect description.
A deputy in the area saw the truck and Maldonado on Midway Boulevard in Port Charlotte. When he activated his emergency lights and stopped the vehicle, Maldonado reportedly ran away.
More deputies responded to the area, including the CCSO aviation unit, and searched for Maldonado.
After a short time, the CCSO aviation unit saw Maldonado lying between a wooded area and a small waterway.
The pilot directed deputies to the area, but Maldonado reportedly ran away after noticing the helicopter.
Deputies said Maldonado attempted to evade them by entering a drainage culvert that came out onto Kings Highway.
As Maldonado exited on the other side, more deputies were already waiting to take him into custody.
Maldonado was arrested and is facing the following charges:
- Burglary of an occupied dwelling
- Grand theft of more than $300 but less than $5,000
- Fleeing or attempting to elude
- Resisting officer without violence
- Knowingly driving while license revoked
- Violation of probation
In addition to those charges, Maldonado was served with a warrant out of DeSoto County for an additional charge of violation of probation, per CCSO.
DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.