Man arrested after breaking into car, fleeing, resisting Fort Myers police

Fort Myers police arrested a man who they say broke into a car at a 7-Eleven and fled from officers.

Police responded to the 7-Eleven on Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers on Sept. 4 just after 6:30 a.m. for a report of a vehicle burglary in progress.

Officers said they found Michael Swain, 34, in the vehicle’s driver’s seat when they arrived, rummaging through the center console. They said when they tried to get his attention, they were ignored until they grabbed Swain’s arm, which they say startled him.

One of the officer’s noticed that Swain had a bayonet-style knife on his hip and quickly grabbed the knife to secure it.

Fort Myers police attempted to detain Swain but said he started yelling and fled. FMPD says an officer tried using their taser to stop Swain but failed.

One officer was able to catch up to Swain and tackle him. Officers say Swain resisted while on the ground and said he appeared to be reaching for his pockets. According to the arrest report, an officer “delivered a series of elbow strikes to the male’s face to gain compliance.”

Fort Myers police say Swain continued to resist until additional officers arrived to help.

Once Swain was in custody, an officer searched him and found a folding knife in his right pocket, which they say he may have been reaching for while resisting arrest.

Inside the car that Swain had broken into, police found a backpack belonging to Swain that had drugs that tested positive for methamphetamine and trace amounts of fentanyl.

After being booked into the Lee County Jail, officers found a sunglasses pouch attached to Swain’s groin that also had a baggie with a crystal-like substance that tested positive for containing fentanyl.

Swain is facing charges of drug possession, fentanyl trafficking of four grams or more, smuggling contraband into a detention facility, resisting arrest without violence, burglary, and theft.

He is being held on a $78,750 bond.