A man in Lee County, Florida, was promptly arrested after he allegedly snatched a chain from a victim’s neck. The authorities stated that the man then fled the scene on a tricycle.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), the incident occurred on Wednesday, July 29. During the afternoon, deputies responded to Orange River Boulevard.
They had been informed that an individual had been the victim of a robbery. A man had run up to the victim and snatched their chain off their neck.
Not only that, but the suspect also pushed the victim to the ground, the LCSO said. Then, he used a tricycle to flee from the scene and hid in a nearby wooded area.
Suspect Found
Deputies, upon learning what had occurred, began to canvass the area. Shortly after, the man, identified as Paul Sloan, whose age was not disclosed by the LCSO, was located. Gulf Coast News Now reported that Sloan is 57 years old.
Notably, the man was standing right next to the tricycle he used in the robbery, the sheriff’s office said. Based on the footage attached above, he was also wearing a shirt, fully unbuttoned.
“Due to the nature of the crime, our Violent Crimes Unit Detectives responded and assumed the investigation,” the LCSO said.
Arrested and Charged
Footage of the arrest showed Sloan, apparently confused over his handcuffing, wondering why he was being taken into custody. The deputy told him that he matched the description given by the victim of the robbery that had taken place.
“I do?” Sloan asked. The deputy responded, “Yes, sir.”
The man was placed in the backseat of a patrol unit. Deputies established probable cause to arrest him for robbery by sudden snatching. If convicted, he could spend up to five years behind bars.
Tricycle Getaways
Sloan wasn’t the only Florida man who used a tricycle as a getaway vehicle in recent memory. Back on April 21, 2026, a homeowner in Ocala, Florida, reported that someone had broken into their residence and stolen some tools.
The victim, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and as reported by WCJB, was seen leaving the home with the bounty. His method of escape? Pedaling on a tricycle, of all things.
The suspect, then identified as 25-year-old Richard Kohler, was unsuccessful in his fleeing attempt. He was arrested by deputies and was subsequently charged with grand theft. If convicted, and as long as the tools were valued at less than $20,000, he faces a sentence of up to five years.