LAKE WALES, Fla. – A Lake Alfred man with an extensive criminal history has been arrested in connection with the theft of an ATV in Lake Wales earlier this month.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) said the arrest of 35-year-old Matthew Methot after detectives located the stolen vehicle at his residence.
The investigation began on May 19th, when an ATV was reported stolen in Lake Wales. A break in the case came on Wednesday, when a PCSO deputy spotted a white 1997 GMC 2500 pickup truck, believed to have been used during the theft, in the Jan Phyl Village neighborhood near Winter Haven.
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A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle at approximately 12:38 p.m. on Spirit Lake Road at Allen Avenue. The driver was identified as Matthew Methot. Although Methot denied involvement in the ATV theft, detectives subsequently located the stolen ATV, albeit “slightly altered,” at his Lake Alfred home.
The stolen ATV has since been returned to its rightful owner.
Methot was taken into custody and transported to the Polk County Jail.
He faces a litany of charges, including Burglary, Grand Theft of a Vehicle, Tampering with Evidence, Violation of Probation, Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR), Attaching an Unassigned Tag, and Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle.
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Authorities noted that Methot has a lengthy criminal record, with prior arrests for offenses such as Battery, Burglary, Grand Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property, Possession of Marijuana, Petit Theft, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting Without Violence, Battery on a Police Dog, Fraud, False ID to Law Enforcement Officer, and DWLSR.
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