Two teens were arrested early Tuesday morning after they were accused of stealing from a smoke shop in North Fort Myers and getting into a chase with authorities that ended in Cape Coral.According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, 17-year-old Robert Rodriguez Sanchez and 16-year-old Joshua Oliveras were arrested after a PIT maneuver and K-9 apprehension.LCSO said they responded to a burglary at Papa’s Smoke Shop on Slater Road around 3:30 a.m., and the owner told deputies a front window was broken and hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise was stolen.A silver Ford Escape was identified as the suspected vehicle, and the Florida Highway Patrol found the vehicle on Bayshore Road, accused of driving at high speeds with no headlights, the sheriff’s office said. With LCSO’s Aviation Unit, they followed the vehicle, and it was accused of running multiple red lights, driving on the wrong side of the road, and reaching speeds around 85 mph, according to deputies.Troopers initiated a PIT maneuver at Pine Island Road and Hibiscus Drive, which stopped the SUV, but both suspects were accused of running away, LCSO said. Aviation and a K-9 found the accused driver, Sanchez, in a pond. Oliveras was the passenger.Detectives learned after that the suspects were accused of taking a family member’s vehicle, driving to Cape Coral to steal another vehicle, and then heading to the smoke shop, the sheriff’s office said.Sanchez is facing charges of fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, no valid driver’s license, reckless driving, grand theft auto, burglary and criminal mischief. Oliveras is facing charges of grand theft auto, burglary and obstruction, according to deputies.Tajany Lopez, a former employee of Papa’s Smoke Shop, questioned their actions, saying, “If you knew that what you were doing wasn’t right, then why even do it to begin with?”Neighboring business owners expressed concern as their security cameras saw deputies investigating hours later. Justin, a neighboring business owner of Topshelf Studios, said, “That’s not really too good. Stealing cars and all that. It’s just nothing you would like to see on a daily basis.”The owner of Papa’s Smoke Shop stated that the store will remain closed following the incident.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Two teens were arrested early Tuesday morning after they were accused of stealing from a smoke shop in North Fort Myers and getting into a chase with authorities that ended in Cape Coral.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, 17-year-old Robert Rodriguez Sanchez and 16-year-old Joshua Oliveras were arrested after a PIT maneuver and K-9 apprehension.

LCSO said they responded to a burglary at Papa’s Smoke Shop on Slater Road around 3:30 a.m., and the owner told deputies a front window was broken and hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise was stolen.

A silver Ford Escape was identified as the suspected vehicle, and the Florida Highway Patrol found the vehicle on Bayshore Road, accused of driving at high speeds with no headlights, the sheriff’s office said.

With LCSO’s Aviation Unit, they followed the vehicle, and it was accused of running multiple red lights, driving on the wrong side of the road, and reaching speeds around 85 mph, according to deputies.

Troopers initiated a PIT maneuver at Pine Island Road and Hibiscus Drive, which stopped the SUV, but both suspects were accused of running away, LCSO said. Aviation and a K-9 found the accused driver, Sanchez, in a pond. Oliveras was the passenger.

Detectives learned after that the suspects were accused of taking a family member’s vehicle, driving to Cape Coral to steal another vehicle, and then heading to the smoke shop, the sheriff’s office said.

Sanchez is facing charges of fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, no valid driver’s license, reckless driving, grand theft auto, burglary and criminal mischief. Oliveras is facing charges of grand theft auto, burglary and obstruction, according to deputies.

Tajany Lopez, a former employee of Papa’s Smoke Shop, questioned their actions, saying, “If you knew that what you were doing wasn’t right, then why even do it to begin with?”

Neighboring business owners expressed concern as their security cameras saw deputies investigating hours later.

Justin, a neighboring business owner of Topshelf Studios, said, “That’s not really too good. Stealing cars and all that. It’s just nothing you would like to see on a daily basis.”

The owner of Papa’s Smoke Shop stated that the store will remain closed following the incident.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.