Our friends at the Charlotte County, Florida Sheriff’s Office shared this story with us about a car thief who got in over his head and begged the police to take him to jail.

Luis Manuel Rodriguez, 23, of North Fort Meyers was arrested after stopping North Port Public Works employee Larry Gant and jumping into the back of his city work truck.

The North Port Police Department had alerted Gant and other Public Works employees that police were looking for a man suspected of stealing a Cadillac in Tampa.

The eight-year city employee wasn’t sure if he had the right man in the back of his truck but drove him to Officer Tom Choiniere anyway. According to the police report, Choiniere questioned Rodriguez and Rodriguez said “take me to jail.”

“This man ran out of the woods and ran out in the middle of the road,” Gant said. “I had to swerve not to hit him. I tried to tell him it was against policy for me to give him a ride. He just jumped in.”

Why was Rodriguez so anxious to turn himself in? Well, let’s just say he wasn’t having a good day. At 7:05 that morning, Rodriguez was seen driving a blue Cadillac on I-75 at excessive speeds. He was pursued by Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Randy Kraus. Rodriguez soon ran out of gas and made a run for it, but not before Trooper Kraus had requested backup.

“Rodriguez probably surrendered because the canine unit was closing in and he could hear the helicopter looking for him.” Kraus said. “He had to cross a canal which probably had alligators in it. He didn’t know where he was or what city he was in.”

Rodriguez was charged with reckless driving, fleeing an officer, driving without a license and grand theft auto.