Rodrigo Castillo Ortiz, 21, of Naples, was found guilty of Fleeing to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer. The jury returned the guilty verdict Tuesday evening, following a one-day trial in Collier County.
On February 27, 2022, a Collier County Sheriff’s Deputy was parked off Tamiami Trail East, conducting a traffic detail for DUI enforcement. He witnessed a man get into a Dodge Charger and exit a nearby parking lot, failing to stop at a stop sign. He began to follow the car and the driver immediately ran a red light. The deputy then attempted to initiate a traffic stop, utilizing his lights and siren. The driver then accelerated, dodged through traffic, and went through another red light.
The deputy called for back-up and additional units arrived. The law enforcement officers activated their lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop but the driver kept driving recklessly.
The driver then turned off Tamiami Trail and onto a residential street, driving over 55 mph, double the speed limit. The driver then drove back to Tamiami Trail and made a quick maneuver to turn onto another residential street. He pulled into a driveway, got out of the car, and attempted to hide in a carport. One of the deputies pulled in right behind him and saw him hide. The defendant was ordered to the ground and taken into custody.
The house he stopped out was not his, but a random location, to try to hide from law enforcement.
Assistant State Attorney Nicole Santini and Assistant State Attorney Laura Mason prosecuted the case. Sentencing is scheduled for January 3, 2023.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director – State Attorney’s Office