Fort Myers man arrested after jumping off bridge into Orange River

Published: Updated:
David Christopher Libby after his May 2018 arrest. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

A Fort Myers man was arrested after jumping off a bridge into the Orange River Monday night.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to Palm Beach Boulevard just east of I-75 Monday night after a man jumped off a bridge into the Orange River, which lets out into the Caloosahatchee River. Deputy boats were seen in the water, and a helicopter surveyed the area from above. The search for the man caused a shutdown along Palm Beach Boulevard from Orange River Boulevard to Manatee Park area for roughly two hours.

David Christopher Libby, 42, of Winkler Avenue, was eventually located and arrested on charges of battery on an officer, resisting an officer and fleeing police.

Libby, who is accused of hitting a deputy with a trailer, is in a hospital room.

Deputies say Libby was driving with a stolen trailer when he was pulled over. Instead of sticking around, Libby took off, hitting the deputy. The deputy was not hurt.

Libby was found hiding in mangroves by authorities.

It was “a lot of commotion,” said James Dyer, who watched as Lee County deputies searched the area to find Libby.

Dyer’s lived on the Orange River for about 16 years and he said he has never seen anything like this.

“There had to be five or six boats,” Dyer said. “There had to be several blue lights on some of the boats.”

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said the agency got a hit for a stolen trailer.

“The suspect pulls over, gets out,” Marceno said. “Our deputy is engaging him. Starts to do the interview at which is taking place. At which point our deputy realizes there’s going to be an arrest made. That person decides to push our deputy to the ground. Committed a battery on a law enforcement officer, gets in his vehicle and takes off.”

Libby jumped out of his truck and into the Orange River.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.