Cape Coral Man Arrested After Attempting to Rob a Bank

(January 12, 2023)- On January 11, 2023, at approximately 11:13 a.m., officers from the Cape Coral Police Department responded to a call for service at 2536 Skyline Boulevard (Bank of America) in reference to an alleged robbery.

Responding officers arrived on the scene and spoke to the victim, a security guard at this location. The victim stated that a male described as a white male in his 70s, wearing a red and white striped shirt and blue jeans, brandished a rifle at the security guard as he attempted to enter the bank. The suspect, later identified as Patrick Lee Schroeder (W/M 03-30-1950, 609 Gleason Parkway), after not being allowed entry by the security guard, fled the scene in a black in color late model BMW with a spray-painted license plate.

Officers were able to quickly locate the suspect vehicle as the driver drove away from the incident location at a high rate of speed. Marked patrol units attempted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle, which disregarded lights and sirens and continued to flee.

The pursuit continued into Fort Myers; the Lee County Sheriff’s Office quickly assumed the lead. The suspect vehicle continued to flee with complete disregard for the caravan of marked and unmarked patrol vehicles following. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a pit maneuverer near Mile Marker 125.5 on Interstate 75 (I-75), and the vehicle came to a final rest. Mr. Schroeder was subsequently detained without further incident. An AR-style rifle was in the passenger seat next to Mr. Schroeder.

The investigation revealed that Mr. Schroeder was at the bank earlier in the day and attempted to deposit a check and withdraw the funds. A hold was placed on the check, which infuriated Mr. Schroeder. Mr. Schroeder returned to his residence, grabbed his rifle, sprayed painted his license plate, and draped a black t-shirt over his head to conceal his identity. He then returned to the bank with the intent to rob this location.

The multijurisdictional and collaborative efforts of the Cape Coral Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol stopped this fleeing armed suspect from attempting or committing further crimes within Lee County.

Mr. Schroeder was subsequently transported to Lee County Jail.

Mr. Schroeder was charged with the following:

*  Robbery with a Firearm (Attempted) F.S.S. 812.13(2)(a).

*  Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon F.S.S. 784.021(1)(a).

* Flee/Elude Police-Flee Elude LEO with Light Siren Active F.S.S.316.1935(2).

*Resisting Without Violence F.S.S. 843.02