Teen accused of stealing car from dollar store parking lot, leading Fort Myers police on chase

A teen was arrested after being accused of leading Fort Myers police officers on a chase after stealing a car from a Family Dollar parking lot.According to the Fort Myers Police Department arrest report, on June 21, officers responded to the Family Dollar store located at 2222 Fowler St. due to reports of a stolen vehicle. The victim told officers that he had gone into the store for five minutes and had left his car unlocked and running with the keys inside.Officers issued a lookout for the stolen vehicle, which was found shortly after traveling southbound on Central Avenue and Crawford Street, the report said.An officer in a patrol car activated their lights and tried to stop the car. Instead of stopping, the driver of the stolen car sped off and turned westbound onto Lafayette Street, continuing toward Jackson Street, according to the report. Officers began a pursuit of the stolen vehicle.As the driver was traveling westbound on Lafayette Street, a woman bailed from the passenger side of the car and rolled into a grassy area on the roadway's shoulder and then walked away, the report said. Officers were unable to locate the woman.The driver of the stolen car then turned onto Edison Avenue before making his way to Crawford Street. Officers then noticed the driver's side door of the stolen car swing open. The driver then veered off the road, ran over a mailbox, and then sideswiped a palm tree, the report said.The driver then bailed from the stolen car and began to run down Lafayette Street, the report said. He eventually stopped running in a parking lot on Central Avenue and was taken down by officers.The driver was identified as John Gray, 18.Gray faces charges of grand theft auto, fleeing/eluding law enforcement, resisting officers without violence, and driving without a valid driver's license.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.