2 teens accused of stealing from North Fort Myers smoke shop, leading authorities on chase

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Two teens were arrested early Tuesday morning after they were accused of stealing from a smoke shop in North Fort Myers and getting into a chase with authorities that ended in Cape Coral.

According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, 17-year-old Robert Rodriguez Sanchez and 16-year-old Joshua Oliveras were arrested after a PIT maneuver and K-9 apprehension.

LCSO said they responded to a burglary at Papa's Smoke Shop on Slater Road around 3:30 a.m., and the owner told deputies a front window was broken and hundreds of dollars' worth of merchandise was stolen.

A silver Ford Escape was identified as the suspected vehicle, and the Florida Highway Patrol found the vehicle on Bayshore Road, accused of driving at high speeds with no headlights, the sheriff's office said.

With LCSO's Aviation Unit, they followed the vehicle, and it was accused of running multiple red lights, driving on the wrong side of the road, and reaching speeds around 85 mph, according to deputies.

Troopers initiated a PIT maneuver at Pine Island Road and Hibiscus Drive, which stopped the SUV, but both suspects were accused of running away, LCSO said. Aviation and a K-9 found the accused driver, Sanchez, in a pond. Oliveras was the passenger.

Detectives learned after that the suspects were accused of taking a family member's vehicle, driving to Cape Coral to steal another vehicle, and then heading to the smoke shop, the sheriff's office said.

Sanchez is facing charges of fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, no valid driver’s license, reckless driving, grand theft auto, burglary and criminal mischief. Oliveras is facing charges of grand theft auto, burglary and obstruction, according to deputies.

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