(August 5, 2024) — On August 4, 2024, at around 2:17 AM, an officer with the Cape Coral Police Department was dispatched to the 2000 block of Santa Barbara Blvd, Cape Coral, FL, for a call for service.
While the officer was sitting inside her patrol car with rear emergency lights activated, a man in a red Lexus SUV hit her patrol car from behind. When the officer made contact with the man, later identified as Luis Rene Viltre Mulet (DOB 09/25/1995), he had glassy, bloodshot eyes. He started reversing his vehicle. The officer repeatedly told him to stop and put the vehicle in park. Once the car was in park, the officer told him to get out and sit on the sidewalk, to which he complied. The officer observed that Viltre Mulet was unsteady on his feet and stumbled from his vehicle to the sidewalk.
Just before the crash, the Cape Coral Police Department received a call from a witness who said a red Lexus SUV struck a tree several times. The witness observed the red Lexus SUV take off from the crash scene in the wrong travel lanes. The witness followed the red Lexus SUV and watched it correct itself by crossing over to the proper lanes. The witness then saw the red Lexus SUV crash into the back of the patrol car before attempting to reverse and leave the scene. The witness’s description of the suspect matched the description of Viltre Mulet, and he later confirmed the male in custody was the male driving the red Lexus SUV.
Officers observed Viltre Mulet to be confused and disoriented with droopy, bloodshot, glassy, watery eyes. They smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath. He had slurred speech and was slow to respond. Viltre Mulet was asked to participate in Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, to which he agreed. After two of the tests, in which he performed poorly, he attempted to walk away and was placed in handcuffs.
Based on the investigation, Viltre Mulet was arrested and taken to the Lee County Jail on the following charges:
–1 count in violation of FSS 316.193(1)(a) – Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
–3 counts in violation of FSS 316.193(3)(c)1 – DUI with Property Damage
–1 count in violation of FSS 316.063(1) – Hit and Run