An Immokalee man was arrested Wednesday after leading deputies on a high-speed chase through busy streets, running a red light, and driving into oncoming traffic.
According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Guadalupe Garcia, 51, was driving a pickup truck when he ran a stop sign at the intersection of Eustis Avenue and South 1st Street in Immokalee.
A deputy attempted to pull him over, but Garcia continued driving, waving his arm out the window as if questioning the stop.
When the deputy activated his sirens near South 1st Street and Colorado Avenue, Garcia hit the gas, the deputy said.
They say Garcia ran a red light on Main Street and South 1st Street, where there was heavy traffic and pedestrians.
He then drove into the opposite lane of traffic on North 1st Street, nearly hitting other vehicles before the pursuit was terminated for safety reasons. Deputies said the chase lasted approximately 0.6 miles, reaching speeds of 50 mph, according to the report.
Garcia was later found sitting on a bench in front of a store on New Market Road, where deputies ordered him to put his hands behind his back and arrested him.
Deputies said Garcia has a lengthy criminal record, including previous convictions for fleeing law enforcement and driving with a suspended license.
His license had been suspended in 2022 with a habitual offender status for five years. He has 19 prior convictions for driving with a suspended license.
Garcia faces charges of fleeing and eluding police with disregard for public safety, driving with a suspended license as a habitual offender, and running a stop sign.
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