SEBASTIAN – A manhunt in Fellsmere Friday ended late afternoon after the suspect was arrested, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
On February 9, 2018, at approximately 8:45 a.m., FHP dispatch received reckless driver calls for a white Land Rover Sports Utility Vehicle traveling northbound on I-95. (The driver was later identified as Andrew Peter Kleopa D.O.B: 12/28/84).
“At approximately 9:00 a.m., a trooper located the suspect vehicle traveling NB on I-95 near mile marker 144,” FHP Lieutenant Alvaro A. Feola told Sebastian Daily.
Alvaro told Sebastian Daily that Kleopa drove in a reckless manner, which included: extremely high rates of speed, and aggressive-erratic lane changes near other motorists
Kleopa actively fled/eluded from the trooper while waving his hand at an extremely high rate of speed. The pursuit approached an active construction zone with workers present. FHP terminated the pursuit near mile-marker 150, due to safety conditions.
At approximately 11:22 a.m., dispatch reported a reckless driver BOLO (Be On The Look Out) for the same suspect vehicle traveling southbound on I-95 near mile marker 159.
Multiple Troop L-Fort Pierce members responded. FHP learned via Kleopa’s mother that he was mentally unstable and extremely depressed. FHP met with Kleopa’s mother and continued gathering information. Kleopa made numerous irrational statements by phone and said he was not going to cooperate with law enforcement.
At approximately 12:10 p.m., FHP located Kleopa’s vehicle at a McDonald’s restaurant parking lot on County Road 512 (adjacent to I-95). Kleopa fled on foot across CR 512 and entered a large wooded area.
FHP with the assistance of the Indian River Sheriff’s Office (IRSO), Fellsmere Police Department, the Sebastian Police Department established a perimeter.
Kleopa said by phone that he has a firearm, and he threatened to shoot the IRSO helicopter. According to Kleopa’s mother, he did not take his (unknown ) medication.
At approximately 1:35 p.m., Kleopa walked into a nearby public gun range, and he asked employees if this was a military base. A multi-agency response occurred. Kleopa fled officers by foot on the gun range property.
A short time after, Kleopa is apprehended without incident. He is now in the Indian River County Jail.
