Two arrested, two sought in armed robbery
Two men have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery that occurred Monday night with Cape Coral police still searching for two other suspects accused of threatening a woman at gunpoint and stealing her phone, purse and keys in home improvement store parking lot
Cape Coral Police responded to an armed robbery call at the Lowe’s at 285 SW 25th Lane around 7:30 p.m. after the victim reported being robbed by three men and one woman who fled in a white 4-door car. The woman reported she was threatened with a firearm and robbed. She said she fought off her assailant and the robbers then fled.
“Officer Brian Dennis located the suspect vehicle as it was leaving the Lowe’s parking lot and attempted to conduct a traffic stop,” a statement released by the Cape Coral Police Department Tuesday states. “The vehicle accelerated and attempted to flee, accelerating to high rates of speed and weaving in and out of traffic. The suspects failed to make a turn at Skyline Boulevard and crashed into multiple vehicles.”
The driver and two other occupants, described as a black male and black female, exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Dennis gave chase on foot and the CCPD Patrol, K9, and Aviation units responded and set up a perimeter.
“An off-duty FHP Trooper, Lt. Bowers, witnessed the crash and detained one of the vehicle occupants, who was later identified as Taudarian L. Jackson, 19, of 2909 Blount St., Ft. Myers, the release states.
A short time later, Officers Hugh Esterle, K9 Officer Bob Reese, and K9 “Arca” located the driver and took him into custody. The driver was identified as Danarian A. Wheeler, 16 of 3137 Guava Street, Ft. Myers.
The other two suspects were not located and remain at-large, officials said.??”A show-up was conducted and Jackson was positively identified as the suspect who committed the robbery,” the release states.
Jackson was medically cleared at a local hospital for injuries sustained in the crash and both suspects were later booked at the Lee County Jail.
Cape Coral Police Detectives, and Forensics personnel responded to assist. The vehicle, which was discovered to have been stolen out of Fort Myers, was towed to the Cape Coral Police Department where a search warrant was executed and the vehicle is being processed by Forensics.
“Cape Coral Police Detectives are continuing to aggressively work this case to identify and locate the remaining suspects. Additional updates will be provided as information becomes available,” said Det. Sergeant Dana Coston, Cape Coral Police Department spokesperson, in the statement.