An Immokalee man was arrested on multiple charges Tuesday, July 30 in connection with a string of recent vehicle thefts and vehicle burglaries in Ave Maria and Immokalee.

Jimmy Andrew Smith, 18, 4646 County Route 850, is charged with three counts of grand theft auto, two counts of grand theft, five counts of vehicle burglary, three counts of petit theft, one count of fleeing and eluding and one count of resisting arrest without violence.

Two teens who were with Smith when he was apprehended also face felony charges. Joel Toledo, 16, and Isaiah Barrera-Gomez, 15, both of Immokalee, are charged with grand theft auto, grand theft and resisting arrest without violence.

Reports say around 6:40 a.m. Tuesday deputies were in the area of Westclox Street and Carson Road in Immokalee looking for a 2013 GMC Sierra 3500HD that had been reported stolen less than an hour earlier when they spotted one matching its description.

They attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the truck fled. The deputies pursued until the truck came to a stop in front of 740 Crestview Drive, Building 9. The driver, later identified as Smith, fled. The passengers, later identified as Toledo and Barrera-Gomez, ran a short distance before being taken into custody. Smith was taken into custody after being located a short time later emerging from a wooded area.

Through their investigation deputies connected Smith to two additional vehicle thefts and five vehicle burglaries and he was charged accordingly.