April 15, 2026
The Punta Gorda Police Department has arrested Nathan Faust III (29) of Punta Gorda after his vehicle crashed into a playground at the Church of the Good Shepherd at 1800 Shreve Street in Punta Gorda this morning. Faust arrived at the school to drop off two children, ages 2 and 3. Faust reportedly got out of the truck with the three-year-old child to take her into the school, leaving the two-year-old in the vehicle, restrained only by a seat belt. The vehicle began moving forward, traveled approximately 25 yards, went through a ditch and a fence, and ended up in the church playground area. Fortunately, there were no children on the playground at the time of the crash. Faust broke out a window in the vehicle and got the two-year-old child out of the truck. The two-year-old child was uninjured during the crash. Faust then drove the truck out of the playground, returned the two-year-old to the day care, and left the scene of the crash.
Faust was located shortly after the incident and charged with Neglect of a Child without Great Bodily Harm, and Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Property Damage. Faust was transported to the Charlotte County Jail, where he was incarcerated.
