WINTER HARBOR HAVEN, Va. — Two people, including a 14-year-old, were arrested early Wednesday morning after using stolen trucks to commit multiple burglaries, the Polk County Sheriff's Office reports.
Deputies said they were searching for two stolen trucks connected to multiple burglaries throughout Tampa and Pasco County. The vehicles were spotted driving together on eastbound Interstate 4.
Deputies started following one of those vehicles, a 2000 Nissan pickup truck, around 1 a.m. Wednesday on I-4. With help from the Florida Highway Patrol and Lake Alfred police, the car was boxed in and the driver was arrested.
The driver, identified as a 14-year-old boy, was charged with grand theft auto, driving without a license, criminal mischief and fleeing to elude.
"What am I getting charged with? Grand theft auto?" the teen reportedly said during the arrest. He explained that he had court for another grand theft arrest the following day and was worried he would miss court.
The sheriff's office says the second stolen vehicle, a 2022 Dodge Ram pickup truck, was spotted shortly after 1 a.m. at the Circle K on Ronald Regan Parkway.
When deputies approached the truck, the driver and his passenger reportedly got out and started running away. While the passenger was not found, the driver, 24-year-old Tamari Lucas, was arrested.
Lucas was charged with grand theft auto and resisting an officer without force.
"Oh my God, not Grady Judd. Are you f***ing serious? This really sucks, because you guys don't play in Polk County," Lucas reportedly told deputies when he found out which county he was in.
According to the sheriff's office, Lucas has an extensive criminal history, including 30 previous felony charges and 12 misdemeanor charges. The 14-year-old has four previous arrests.
"These two thieves are running rampant. They obviously don't take our criminal justice system seriously. Why is this 14-year-old out at 1:00 in the morning stealing cars and committing burglaries? Where are the adults in his life?" Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "We will absolutely hold these two accountable. We are just not going to tolerate this nonsense."
