CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A 16-year-old teen, Donovan M. Arana, is facing multiple charges following a series of vehicle thefts, burglaries, and a DUI crash in Cape Coral.
On Sunday night, police responded to a reported motor vehicle theft at a 7-Eleven located at 3129 Chiquita Boulevard South. The victim reported that his maroon Kia Sorento was stolen from the parking lot after he accidentally left his keys inside while briefly entering the store.
When officers arrived, they discovered an unoccupied blue Honda CR-V nearby with its lights on, engine running, and transmission left in reverse. The Honda was reported stolen from a home near Gleason Parkway and Skyline Boulevard, where another vehicle, a Suburban, had also been burglarized. Police said the Honda struck the Suburban while backing out, causing damage to both vehicles.
While officers were speaking with the Kia’s owner, the victim spotted his stolen vehicle traveling on Gleason Parkway toward Chiquita Boulevard. Surveillance footage later revealed Arana exiting the Honda and driving off in the Kia.
The Lee County Sheriff’s aviation unit assisted in the search and located the Kia traveling at high speeds on Chiquita Boulevard. At approximately 10:24 p.m., Arana crashed the stolen Kia at the intersection of SW 28th Terrace and SW 17th Avenue. The vehicle collided with a wooden utility pole and a dumpster before stopping near a home under construction.
Police and Florida Highway Patrol troopers detained Arana, who showed signs of impairment such as bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the smell of alcohol. He was hospitalized for crash-related injuries and tested with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .105 — well above Florida’s legal limit of .02 for drivers under 21. He was arrested for DUI by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Inside the stolen Kia, investigators found stolen alcoholic beverages, snacks, and a key fob for another vehicle. The burglarized Suburban contained scattered personal checks and an open alcoholic beverage.
The crash resulted in a totaled Kia with an estimated $30,000 loss, a damaged LCEC utility pole valued at approximately $30,000, and a dumpster damaged by about $5,000.
Arana faces several charges, including:
3 counts of DUI property damage
3 counts of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance
2 counts of grand theft motor vehicle
1 count of DUI
1 count of petit theft (under $750)
The investigation is ongoing.
