DATE: Saturday, July 19, 2008
TIME: 6 a.m.
LOCATION: Landscapes Lawncare, 12745 Livingston Road, North Naples
ARRESTED: Euliber Lorentes Cruz, 2-5-1967, of Miami Hector Salazar-Amaro, 3-7-1971, of Hialeah
ARREST LOCATION: Alligator Alley, near Mile Marker No. 54 and Mile Marker No. 58 on Interstate 75
SUMMARY: Deputies' reports give this account: When he arrived to open the business Saturday, the owner of Landscapes Lawncare noticed a truck had been driven through the business gates to allow thieves to steal two other trucks and their trailers filled with lawn equipment. He called CCSO immediately.
Deputies say Cruz and Salazar-Amaro each stole a F-250 pickup with a trailer filled with lawn equipment and drove them out of the compound and headed for Interstate 75. But their getaway didn't last long.
Deputies responding to the call, notified the Alley's west toll plaza to be on the lookout for two pickups pulling lawn equipment trailers. Deputies learned the two trucks had just gone through the gate.
Deputies caught up with one of the trucks and trailers at Mile Marker No. 54 and were able to pull over Salazar-Amaro who was driving the stolen truck. After a short pursuit, Cruz was stopped at Mile Marker No. 54 after he drove into a ditch and struck a roadside fence. He then ran away, but deputies caught him.
Both were arrested and charged with three counts each of grand theft and one count each of burglary and grand theft. Salazar-Amaro is also facing fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest without violence and driving without a valid license charges.
Mug shots will be posted when they become available.
