Frank Sando

The Fort Myers Police Department, with the assistance of the Florida Highway Patrol, have arrested Frank Sando, 56, of 2122 S.W. 12th Place, Cape Coral, and charged him with first degree burglary with a battery.

After a lengthy investigation, detectives believe Sando harassed several women in area parking lots. According to reports, one of the victims gave detectives a license plate number, which led them to Sando.

Police reportedly began surveillance on Sando and after speaking with him Tuesday night, Sando left the area in his 1997 white Chevrolet S10 Blazer. Wednesday, FHP officers stopped Sando on Interstate 10 in Pensacola. The suspect is being held in the Escambia County Jail.

According to an earlier report from the FMPD, on May 25 a woman reported that she parked her car at a drug store located at 1525 Colonial Boulevard. She went inside the store and when she returned to her car, the suspect approached her and told her she had a flat tire. He then offered to help her replace the tire with a spare. As she was moving her seat back the suspect touched her inappropriately. The woman immediately pulled away and left the area. She later learned from her mechanic that someone had removed the valve stem from her tire, the report states.

While conducting the investigation, the FMPD reported that similar incidents happened to other women in the parking lot but they were not reported to police. One woman claimed the suspect tried to lure her into his car.

The investigation led to Sando’s arrest Wednesday.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Cape Coral Police Department and the Lee County Tax Collector’s Office also assisted with the investigation.