Fort Myers Beach truck driver jailed for alleged reckless driving in turtle nesting area

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. (WINK)—A man spent the night in jail after doing donuts in his pickup truck on Fort Myers Beach and then attempting to run away from law enforcement.

Fort Myers Beach just began their turtle nesting season this month, meaning it's unlawful for drivers to operate their vehicles on the beach or near turtle nesting areas.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office responded to the pier Tuesday evening for reports of a vehicle driving recklessly and doing donuts in a white pickup truck. When they arrived on the scene, they found Emmanuel De Jesus Perez Lopez and told him that it was illegal to drive vehicles on the beach, dunes and designated sea turtle nesting areas.

Deputies attempted to detain him for questioning until they finished their investigation. That's when Perez Lopez attempted to flee.

LCSO quickly caught up with Perez Lopez, and placed him under arrest.

"They're not thinking outside themselves, about the environment or anything," beachgoers Micky and Sue said. "This is a cherished place for me...This is a wildlife zone for me, and so I cannot believe that someone would put that in danger, any of them, all the little critters."

Perez Lopez was charged with resisting an officer without violence and operating a vehicle on the beach against community ordinance. He bailed out of the Lee County jail on Wednesday afternoon. No turtles or nesting areas were harmed.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach released a statement regarding the incident on Wednesday afternoon.

"Our beach is one of the most special parts of living here. It is a place where families gather, children play at the water’s edge, and shorebirds nest along the shoreline. It belongs to all of us, and keeping it safe is something we all share.

That's why we're asking everyone to help protect it: our beach is for pedestrians. No automobiles on the sand. What feels harmless in the moment can put families, pets, and wildlife in serious danger.

A big thank you to the Lee County Sheriff's Office for their continued hard work in helping keep our beaches safe for people and the environment. We are grateful for everything they do."