San Carlos Park car theft leads to high-speed chase and arrest

LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A San Carlos Park resident briefly left their car running in the driveway, only to return and find it missing.

The incident led to a high-speed chase and the arrest of a man with a long criminal history.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office identified 38-year-old Cesar Ruelas as the suspect. Ruelas, unfamiliar with the victim, took off with a 2016 Mustang, sparking a pursuit that began in the victim's driveway.

"Person pulls up into their driveway, leaves the vehicle running and unlocked, runs into their house to get some type of belongings, comes out the vehicle was stolen," said Sheriff Carmine Marceno of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

The suspect fled the area, only to be pursued by the Florida Highway Patrol later that evening.

"They initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle takes off. The suspect driving that vehicle is drunk and driving under the influence. He takes off at speeds of over 120 miles an hour," said Marceno.

Ruelas crashed the Mustang in North Fort Myers and attempted to escape on foot.

A deputy K9 handler tracked down and arrested Ruelas.

"This was the perfect storm. This was an intoxicated male walking by. He sees that opportunity, and the opportunity is what we can control, right? That person has the desire and the opportunity and the ability, right? But we can take away the opportunity," said Marceno.

Ruelas now faces multiple charges from both the Florida Highway Patrol and the Lee County Sheriff's Office, including DUI, grand theft, hit and run, and fleeing from police.