Lee County, FL - A 22-year-old man who was arrested last week after being pulled over in a stolen vehicle told police he "found" it.
Authorities have arrested a Fort Myers resident, James Comer Jr., 22, following allegations of stealing multiple vehicles, including a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) initiated an investigation after a woman reported her Hyundai Santa Fe missing from her driveway on Dec. 26. The vehicle, left unlocked with keys and personal belongings inside, was captured on security footage being taken from the residence at approximately 7:00 p.m. The car was later discovered abandoned on Davis Road and returned to its owner.
Two days post this incident, an LCSO deputy identified a suspicious Kia Sportage with a Pennsylvania license plate on McGregor Boulevard. The vehicle led the deputy to a nearby 7-Eleven, where Comer was observed exiting the car. Upon questioning, Comer claimed he had merely "found" the vehicle.
However, a subsequent search led to the discovery of multiple key fobs, including those for a Land Rover, Hyundai, and Jeep Compass. Additionally, Comer was found in possession of debit and credit cards belonging to the woman who reported her Hyundai stolen and another individual's driver's license. Further investigations revealed that Comer's driving license had been revoked since January 2020, with prior convictions for driving with a suspended or revoked license recorded in April 2021 and April 2022.
In light of these findings, Comer was apprehended and transported to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. LCSO has identified Comer as a potential suspect in several grand theft auto incidents spanning from Dec. 15 to Dec. 26. Remarkably, all the stolen vehicles, including a 2021 Jeep Compass and a 2014 Land Rover, were located at the same Davis Road site.
Comer now confronts a slew of charges, including four counts of vehicle theft, unlawful possession of personal identification information, and petit theft with prior convictions.