Source The Charlotte Observer
A “dangerous” man linked to an armed home invasion in Rhode Island made it 1,200 miles in a stolen Ferrari before getting caught in Florida, according to law enforcement officials.
Johnathan Costa was surrounded at a Palm Coast home and forced to surrender Tuesday, Aug. 27, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Palm Coast is about an 80-mile drive northeast from Orlando.
Costa, 19, was in hiding after eluding deputies in a chase that exceeded speeds of 100 mph — including some stretches through school zones, officials said.
“Detectives determined that Costa had a friend who resided on Royal Palm Lane in Palm Coast. Believing that Costa could possibly be hiding there, a be-on-the-lookout was issued,” the sheriff’s office said.
“At approximately 4:30 p.m., Chief David Williams located the stolen vehicle behind the residence on Royal Palm Lane. ... Deputies set up a perimeter around the residence and made announcements to Costa to exit. Shortly after, Costa exited the residence and was secured without incident.”
He is charged with being a fugitive from justice, entering a dwelling with felonious intent, using a firearm when committing a crime of violence, “and conspiracy charges in connection with the home invasion and vehicle theft,” officials said.
The peaceful surrender stands in contrast to the daring crime spree that began Aug. 24 when “two masked males armed with handguns” entered a family’s home in Cranston, Rhode Island, at 3:20 a.m., officials say.
“The suspect demanded the keys to a 1028 Ferrari Spider convertible parked in the garage and a Chevy Corvette,” Cranston police said in an Aug. 27 news release. “It was clear from the onset that this was not a random act.”
Two suspects were identified, one of whom had previously been in the home and had “an indirect connection to one of the residents,” police said.
The driver of the stolen Ferrari led police chases in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and Florida, and each time managed to outpace patrol cars, police said.
An 18-year-old male believed to be Costa’s partner in the home invasion turned himself in to North Providence police “within hours of Costa’s arrest,” officials said.
“This criminal ... traveled at extremely dangerous speeds, even through a school zone, and put everyone on the road around him in danger,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in an Aug. 28 news release.
”I’m glad he was captured before his joyride turned fatal. Frankly, he’s lucky to be behind bars ... instead of dead behind the wheel or facing even more serious charges.”
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