Deputies recovered a car minutes after its owner reported it stolen Wednesday and arrested two men in connection with the theft following a brief pursuit in rush-hour traffic in Golden Gate.Brandon James Walker, 19, 1821 Richards St., Golden Gate Estates, and Mark D. Dieujuste, 23, 294 15th St. S.W., Golden Gate, were each charged with grand theft auto and petty theft. Walker was also charged with fleeing and eluding.
Arrest reports gave this account:
Deputies were taking a report from Nicole Solano around 4 p.m. when they received information that her 2005 white Chevrolet Impala was in the parking lot at Wal-Mart, 5420 Juliet Blvd.
Solano told deputies that her car had just been stolen from the parking lot of the Walgreens store at 15295 Collier Blvd., where she works.
Deputies attempted to stop the Impala as it was leaving the Wal-Mart parking lot, but the driver, Walker, accelerated and headed east on Immokalee Road and then south on Tarpon Bay Boulevard.
Deputies engaged in a pursuit with the Impala, which was weaving in and out of traffic, nearly running vehicles off the road . The Impala turned east onto Spanish Oaks Lane and then south onto Oakes Boulevard.
Solano told deputies that her car had just been stolen from the parking lot of the Walgreens store at 15295 Collier Blvd., where she works.
Deputies attempted to stop the Impala as it was leaving the Wal-Mart parking lot, but the driver, Walker, accelerated and headed east on Immokalee Road and then south on Tarpon Bay Boulevard.
Deputies engaged in a pursuit with the Impala, which was weaving in and out of traffic, nearly running vehicles off the road . The Impala turned east onto Spanish Oaks Lane and then south onto Oakes Boulevard.
The Impala slowed down at the intersection of Oakes and Vanderbilt Beach Road, which was heavy with traffic. A deputy in a patrol car maneuvered his car against the Impala, bringing it to a stop.
Walker and Dieujuste, the front-seat passenger, were arrested.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicle tag that was attached to the Impala had been reported stolen from a red 2005 Impala parked at Coastland Center mall in Naples, arrest reports said.
Walker and Dieujuste, the front-seat passenger, were arrested.
Further investigation revealed that the vehicle tag that was attached to the Impala had been reported stolen from a red 2005 Impala parked at Coastland Center mall in Naples, arrest reports said.
