Update/More charges in May 11 pursuit

A 42-year-old Fort Myers man involved in a long chase up U.S. 1 is facing additional charges.

Michel Campos Cordova faces four new charges of fraud relating to four stolen credit cards found in his possession.

Campos Cordova also faces multiple counts of fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, reckless driving, possession of fraudulent credit cards, possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended or revoked license/third or subsequent offense.

The incident began shortly after 1 p.m. when the Sheriff’s Office was alerted of a reckless driver in a black, Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that was northbound somewhere between Mile Marker 63 and 66. Deputy Vincent Torres spotted the truck and followed it. The truck was not staying in its lane. Deputy Torres turned on his patrol car lights/siren and made a traffic stop.

Campos Cordova stopped and was identified as the driver. He was the only person in the truck. Deputy Wilfredo Guerra arrived on scene. Deputy Torres returned to his vehicle to gather information whereupon he learned Campos Cordova’s license had been suspended for failure to pay a traffic fine. Deputy Torres returned to the pickup truck and informed Campos Cordova that his license was not valid. He ordered Campos Cordova out of the pickup truck.

Campos Cordova said he could not do that. Campos Cordova put the truck in drive and fled north on U.S. 1. Deputies Torres and Guerra pursued him with their lights/sirens on. Campos Cordova began passing on the wrong side of the road while forcing other vehicles off the highway. Deputy Torres then discontinued his pursuit near Mile Marker 74 as Deputy Guerra had better sight of the truck.

Multiple other deputies became involved in the pursuit, including officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Campos Cordova ran over multiple spike strips that were laid out by deputies. Sgt. Nicholis Whiteman noted in his report that Campos Cordova was still driving into oncoming traffic while fleeing northbound in Islamorada after the tires on the pickup truck were successfully deflated by the spike strips. The truck was driving on rims by this time.

When the pursuit neared Mile Marker 117 on the Miami-Dade County side of U.S. 1, Campos Cordova stopped and put his hands out the truck window. He came to slow stop after hitting the fence on the northbound side of the 18-Mile Stretch. He was taken into custody by the FWC.

By that time, Homestead Police as well as Miami-Dade police had been notified of the pursuit. Miami-Dade had a helicopter ready to assist in the case.

A partially smoke marijuana cigarette was found inside the vehicle. Seven credit cards were found inside Camps Cordova’s wallet. They appeared to be fake. Further investigation showed that a bank had reported the credit card information stolen from at least six different individuals from across the United States.

Four of those individuals have been contacted by the Sheriff’s Office as of Thursday and verified the cards are theirs.

Campos Cordova was taken to the Monroe County Detention Center in Key West where he remains in lieu of $150,000 bail.

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