Lee County Sheriff's Office I-75 Pursuit

MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL PURSUIT ENDS ON I-75
“We train together, respond together, and make Lee County a safer place for our great residents. I am beyond proud of our collaboration with surrounding agencies to take this dangerous suspect into custody,” said Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
“I had the opportunity to watch this scene unfold from the sky in the chopper, and I reiterate, my LCSO family members are the greatest. If you chose to run from us, we will come after you with all of our assets,” said Sheriff Marceno.
On January 11th, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Cape Coral Police of a pursuit coming over the Midpoint Bridge into Fort Myers.
The suspect, 72-year-old Patrick Schroeder, was armed with an AR-style firearm and was a person of interest in a Cape Coral incident.
Multiple LCSO deputies joined the pursuit on Colonial Boulevard where Schroeder was driving erratically, running red lights, and swerving toward patrol vehicles.
The pursuit continued southbound on Interstate 75.
Deputies observed Schroeder grabbing an item from the floorboard, and knowing there was a firearm in the car, deputies conducted a P.I.T./ tactical vehicle intercept maneuver.
The vehicle came to rest on I-75 near Alico Road where Schroeder was taken into custody.
Deputies located the AR-style rifle, with a metal magazine in the well, between the passenger seat and the center console.
While returning via chopper from an awards recognition event honoring Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Bill Prummell, and Collier County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Sheriff Marceno was able to oversee the entire pursuit from the air. The chopper landed on I-75 where Sheriff Marceno walked the scene and commended the responding officer and deputies.
Schroeder was arrested for two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on LE, fleeing to elude LE, and resisting an officer.
This arrest was the result of multiple agencies and assets working together. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division organized the multi-agency response and dispatched dozens of responding officers and deputies. LCSO aviation kept eyes on the suspect from the sky during the 20-mile pursuit and dozens of responding officers ensured other motorists were safe during a dangerous pursuit.
We are honored to serve alongside the Cape Coral Police Department and assist with the apprehension of Schroeder.