False robbery report leads to arrest in hit-and-run crash that knocked out power pole in Cape Coral

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

A Cape Coral man was arrested after being accused of a hit-and-run crash that knocked down a power pole on East Gator Circle Thursday morning.

According to the Cape Coral Police Department, officers responded to the McDonald's on Del Prado Boulevard North on Thursday after receiving a report of a past-occurred robbery.

They met with Juan David Robelto, 28, who told the officers he had been attacked and robbed the previous evening while driving home from work.

Robelto told officers that an unknown man assaulted him and stole his vehicle, which was a 2012 Ford F-150. Officers noted that inconsistencies quickly emerged in Robelto's story when compared against physical evidence, CCPD said.

Officers noted that Robelto's truck matched one involved in a hit-and-run crash on East Gator Circle that knocked out a power pole and caused power outages along the road Thursday morning.

The truck showed collision damage, fresh white paint and a locked seatbelt consistent with a recent crash. Robelto also had injuries consistent with being involved in a crash, CCPD said.

After being sworn in and giving a written statement, Robelto was confronted by officers about the conflicting evidence and admitted the story was untrue, CCPD said.

Robelto was arrested and faces charges of false reporting of a crime and leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage.

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