The man told deputies his car had been stolen Tuesday and that the thief crashed it and got away.But deputies say there was no car thief and that the man talking to them, Michael Joseph Auer, had led them on a pursuit through North Naples earlier in the day before crashing his car and running away.
Auer, 25, 6648 Tannin Lane, Apt. B, North Naples, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, making a false report in the commission of a crime, driving on a suspended license, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, and violation of probation.
Arrest reports gave this account:
Around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday deputies were in pursuit of a 2005 Mitsubishi that was traveling 80 mph westbound on Pine Ridge Road near Interstate 75. The driver attempted to turn north onto Goodlette-Frank Road, but the car continued straight and drove off the west side of Goodlette-Frank.
The driver lost control of the car and struck a pedestrian guard rail. The car continued west and struck a tree, coming to a stop. The driver ran out of the car into nearby woods.
Deputies searched on the ground and in the air but were unable to locate the driver.
A search of the car turned up an ATM receipt from the Circle K convenience store at Santa Barbara and Hunter boulevards in Golden Gate. The time on the receipt was 2:17 a.m. Tuesday. Deputies first noticed the Mitsubishi leaving the Circle K parking lot minutes before the pursuit began.
Deputies also found a debit card belonging to Auer on the passenger-side floorboard. A computer check of motor vehicle records showed the Mitsubishi was registered to Auer.
Store surveillance video showed Auer using the ATM at 2:17 a.m. Deputies also identified Auer from the video as the driver of the Mitsubishi who fled from them during the pursuit.
Around 4:15 p.m. deputies responded to Auer’s residence because he wanted to report that his car had been stolen. He told deputies that he had left his car parked outside a friend’s house around 9 p.m. Monday with the keys inside and that when he returned around 9 a.m. Tuesday it was gone.
He told deputies that a towing company called him Tuesday morning and told him that his car had been towed after being in a crash involving a pursuit with deputies.
When deputies asked him where he had been early that morning he said he was at home.
When deputies confronted him with the ATM receipt, he denied being at the Circle K. He also was unable to provide an explanation of how he was videotaped making the ATM withdrawal. He also denied driving and running from deputies.
