19-hour high-speed Fort Myers Beach boat chase ends off Cuba

After 19 hours of chasing a boat stolen out of Fort Myers Beach waters, law enforcement stopped the vessel off Cuba.

The 33-foot, center-console boat with three 300-horsepower engines was halted 65 nautical miles off the northwest tip of Cuba, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Ashley J. Johnson, with the U.S. Coast Guard out of Miami.

Lee County sheriff's deputies contacted the Coast Guard about the stolen about 1:30 a.m. Thursday, she said.

Johnson said that law enforcement vessels were ahead of the boat for most of the pursuit, which ended before 8:30 p.m. Christmas Eve.

She said three suspects aboard the vessel were detained but could not confirm if the suspects were charged.

On the way out of Southwest Florida's waters, the boat struck a navigational marker by Matanzas Pass.

“We’re advising mariners to use caution while transiting the channel,” she said.

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