CAPE CORAL, FL — On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a Cape Coral Police Department Traffic Unit Officer observed a silver Kia sedan traveling 55 miles per hour in a posted 35-mph zone in the 600 block of Nicholas Parkway East.
When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver—later identified as Christian James Decena (DOB 12/08/2005)—refused to stop and fled westbound on Nicholas Parkway. Decena continued driving recklessly, running a steady red light at the intersection of Nicholas Parkway East and Santa Barbara Boulevard before crashing, striking the center median and a city-owned traffic sign. He then traveled north in the southbound lanes of Santa Barbara Boulevard.
The officer broadcast the vehicle’s description and direction of travel to CCPD Dispatch. Officers located a silver Kia Rio with front-end damage near the intersection of Southwest 3rd Avenue and Southwest 8th Street. Decena was found at the scene examining the vehicle’s damage and was detained without further incident.
A records check revealed that the vehicle was unregistered and bearing a license plate registered to a different vehicle. The crash caused approximately $1,000 in damage to city property.
Christian James Decena was arrested and transported to the Lee County Jail, where he faces the following charges:
Fleeing to Elude Law Enforcement with Property Damage (F.S.S. 316.1935(4a))Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Property Damage (F.S.S. 316.061(1))Operating an Unregistered Vehicle (F.S.S. 320.02(1))
Decena was also cited for speeding 55 mph in a 35 mph zone and for failure to obey a steady red light.
