Police chase in Fort Myers follows car theft outside dollar store

A reported car theft outside a Family Dollar on Fowler Street in Fort Myers led to a police chase Sunday, ending with the arrest of 18-year-old John Gray.

Officers said the victim left their car running and unlocked while inside the store. Gray is accused of entering the vehicle with a woman and driving off.

“Probably going to lock my car for sure, definitely start locking my car, definitely not leaving it running when I run into places real quick,” Javarius Jackson of Fort Myers said.

Shortly after, officers located the car and attempted a traffic stop near Central Avenue and Crawford Street.

The chase did not go far, and at some point during the pursuit, an unknown woman reportedly jumped out of the vehicle.

“Most I have heard of it, cars getting broken into, not really the whole car itself getting stolen,” Jackson said.

The pursuit escalated after Gray was accused of hitting a mailbox, sideswiping a tree, and then running toward Central Avenue.

“It’s not a normal thing, but it is definitely something to look out for,” Emilio Ojeda of Fort Myers said.

Officers said they chased Gray into a parking lot, where he was arrested on charges of grand theft, fleeing police, and resisting an officer.