It seems like someone forgot to tell the car thieves that Florida is not the place to go for a joyride. In just over 24 hours, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office recovered three stolen vehicles and arrested five individuals, proving that crime doesn’t pay, especially when you’re up against a vigilant Sheriff’s Office and their trusty FLOCK system.
The first incident unfolded like a scene from a bad action movie. A stolen Jeep Cherokee, fresh out of Indiana, triggered a FLOCK alert, leading deputies on a high-speed chase (okay, maybe not high-speed, but definitely a chase) before cornering the driver, Caden Layne of Anderson, Indiana.
Read: Illegal Immigrant Arrested In Florida After Firing Gun From His Truck: WCSO
Caden’s excuse? He bought it from a mysterious stranger at a casino. We’re not sure which casino sells used cars, but we’re guessing the odds weren’t in his favor. His passenger, Jordan Lee Vega, also from Indiana, was reported as a runaway.
Just when the deputies thought they could catch a break, another stolen vehicle, this time sans license plate, caught their attention. The driver, Jody Tullis of Ponce de Leon, tried to explain away his possession of the vehicle with a story about a trade with a certain Dustin Wooten of DeFuniak Springs. It turns out that Dustin wasn’t exactly a legitimate car salesman, either.
Read: Citrus County Man Gets 65 Years After Shooting Teen On ATV Near His Property
And as if two stolen vehicles weren’t enough excitement for one day, the next morning brought another FLOCK hit – a stolen GMC Sierra spotted at a Love’s Travel Stop. The driver, Herbert Rogers of Pensacola, claimed the vehicle was loaned to him. We’re starting to see a pattern here… Needless to say, the real owner had a different story.
All in all, it was a busy couple of days for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Five arrests, three stolen vehicles recovered, and a whole lot of bad excuses.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.