Cape Coral vehicle burglary suspect swam across canal during chase, police say

A man was arrested by officers with the Cape Coral Police Department after they say he tried to break into and steal from a pickup truck. In a news release, CCPD says that officers responded to the 5300 block of Nautilus Drive at around 10:42 p.m. regarding a report of a vehicle burglary in progress. A resident had reported seeing a shirtless man exit a white SUV, walk up the driveway and try to open the door of an unoccupied pickup truck, which was locked. The victim told officers that they saw the suspect heading toward El Dorado Parkway East. A description was sent out to officers, and shortly before 10:57 p.m., they located the suspect's vehicle parked in a driveway in the 1400 block of Wiltshire Court. When officers found the vehicle, they found the suspect standing on the passenger side. He ducked under the vehicle before running south toward a nearby canal and jumping in the water to avoid capture, according to CCPD. After swimming across the canal, the suspect exited on the opposite bank where officers were positioned to detain him. The suspect, later identified as Antonio Palhares Desouza, 43, was arrested and faces charges of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, loitering and prowling, and resisting an officer without violence. 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