Arrest made in Port Charlotte shooting

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.- Detectives are in the process of charging a man in relation to a shooting incident that occurred in the area of Meehan Avenue and Aaron Street.

Shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a man having been knocked off his bicycle by a silver colored car along Meehan Avenue.

The vehicle stopped and several gunshots were fired. The bicyclist suffered minor injuries from the crash, which was apparently an intentional act. Despite at least one round having gone into a nearby residence, nobody was injured as a result of the shots being fired.

Authorities say the vehicle involved in the incident was a 2002 silver Lexus.

Just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, detectives located the vehicle traveling in the area of Sheehan Boulevard and Peachland Boulevard.

Deputies had the driver, 30-year-old Michael Coley, get out of the car.

According to officials, both Coley and the inside of his car smelled heavily of marijuana. When they looked inside, detectives saw small pieces of marijuana, also known as “shake,” on the driver’s seat.

Prior to the traffic stop, detectives had seen Coley throw something from the car. Deputies searched the area and located a plastic baggie that contained 27.9 grams of marijuana.

Coley was arrested on charges of possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Because of the felony charge, his vehicle and almost $1,700 that Coley had on him were seized under the Florida Forfeiture Act.

The Lexus was taken to the sheriff’s office where, after a search warrant was obtained, it was searched for evidence concerning the shooting incident. The Lexus had damage that was consistent with the bicycle crash and it fit the description provided by witnesses.

Detectives are currently in the process of charging Coley with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with the intent to commit a felony and shooting into an occupied dwelling, among other charges.

Even though there has been an arrest, the investigation is still on-going.  Detectives ask anyone who has any information concerning this case to call the sheriff’s office at 941-639-2101.