Christopher Ryan Manning, 40, of Cape Coral, was found guilty as charged of Fleeing to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer with Lights and Sirens and No Driver’s License.
The jury returned the guilty verdict Tuesday evening, following a one-day trial in Lee County. He was adjudicated guilty and immediately sentenced to 5 years in prison on count one, and 60 days in the Lee County Jail on count two. The charges are to run concurrently.
On July 18, 2022, a Cape Coral Police Officer, in a marked patrol car, observed a Chevy Equinox exit a convenience store parking lot without stopping at the stop sign. The vehicle then began driving north in a southbound lane, in the direction of oncoming traffic. The officer immediately activated emergency overhead lights and sirens. The officer then noticed the vehicle did not have a visible license plate attached.
The car then went through another stop sign, without stopping, and crossed over a median, to begin driving north in the correct lanes. The vehicle then sped up to 45 mph in a 35 mph zone, as the driver threw a cigarette butt out the window, towards the patrol vehicle. The vehicle continued to speed then turned a corner and stopped. The sole occupant was the defendant.
He initially refused to cooperate with the officer. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the defendant knew he had no driver’s license and was illegally driving the unregistered vehicle. He was arrested at the scene and the car was towed.
Assistant State Attorney Jonathan Levy and Assistant State Attorney Olivia Ferrell prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office