BROOKSVILLE, FL. – Two Florida men rented a U-Haul truck to take a dirt bike for a “test” ride but ended up behind bars for grand theft. Read On.
On Monday just before 3 p.m., Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area of Centralia Road in Brooksville regarding a Grand Theft Auto.
The male victim called 911 to report his 2003 Suzuki RN85 (dirt bike) had just been stolen by two males. The caller said he was attempting to sell the dirt bike and had been in contact with someone, via social media, who was interested in purchasing it.
The interested parties, later identified as Antonio and Anthony Greene, arrived at the caller’s residence to take a look at the dirt bike and possibly work out a deal. Antonio Greene requested to “test drive” the dirt bike and was granted permission to do so. Antonio drove off “like a mad man” heading eastbound on Centralia Road.
The victim heard the dirt bike being operated, then suddenly the engine noise stopped. This led the victim to believe the dirt bike had been shut off, quickly. Alarmed by this, the victim and a family member got into a vehicle and began looking for Antonio and the dirt bike.
While driving down Centralia Road, the victim saw Antonio and Anthony Greene loading the dirt bike into a U-Haul that was parked on the side of the road.
As the victim attempted tried to approach the pair, Antonio and Anthony drove off in the U-Haul at a very high rate of speed. At times, the U-Haul drove into oncoming traffic in an attempt to flee the area.
The victim lost sight of the U-Haul in the area of Fort Dade Avenue and Citrus Way.
As deputies traveled to the area where the U-Haul was last seen, an anonymous caller contacted the HCSO to report a (suspicious) U-Haul truck parked behind the Coastal Ministries Church located at 9021 Kearsarge Lane in Brooksville.
The caller went on to state that two black males were walking around the U-Haul and the church parking lot. Deputies immediately rerouted to the church.
Detectives D. Vargas and A. Covey arrived at the church first and immediately placed the two males into custody.
The males identified themselves as Antonio and Anthony Greene. Antonio then stated he had a gun in the passenger compartment of the U-Haul.
As deputies approached the U-Haul they observed a black semi-automatic handgun in the cup holder on the center console. Deputies also saw the rear door of the U-Haul was open. The yellow dirt bike was visible inside the storage area, lying on its side. Deputies noted the handgun was fully loaded with a round in the chamber.
The victim arrived on the scene and positively identified both males as the same persons who stole the dirt bike.
Deputies interviewed Antonio, who advised he had been in contact with the victim regarding the sale of the dirt bike. Antonio stated he took the dirt bike for a test drive and while test driving it, the dirt bike broke down.
Antonio then loaded the dirt bike into the U-Haul he rented, which coincidentally, was parked right where the dirt bike broke down. Antonio stated he planned to deliver the broken-down dirt bike back to the victim.
Antonio told investigators that he saw the victim and his family member approach the U-Haul in their vehicle. Antonio got “freaked out” because he thought the victim was going to “rob him.” Although Antonio was never threatened by the victim, he still believed he was going to be robbed, as he had been robbed in the past.
Both suspects were arrested and charged as follows:
Antonio Jacquez Greene, 21
- Grand Theft Auto
- Possession of Firearm in the Commission of a Felony
- Bond – $20,000.
Anthony Willard Greene III, 18
- Grand Theft Auto
- Juvenile – Turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The dirt bike was returned to the owner. The firearm and ammunition were placed into evidence and the U-Haul was towed from the scene.
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