An incident involving an 18-year-old man in Florida who made an alleged series of attempted car thefts at a luxury dealership ended with his being tased and arrested.
According to reports, the incident happened on the evening of January 14 at a BMW dealership in Daytona Beach. The man allegedly went to the dealership with his girlfriend and a friend. Investigators say the group came and left several times that evening while trying to figure out how to get a vehicle, despite reportedly having no money or credit to make a purchase.
The situation escalated when the man allegedly became upset with dealership staff after being told he could not buy a car. Authorities say he returned again and tried to get into multiple vehicles on the lot. At one point, he reportedly entered a restricted area intended only for employees and got inside a BMW SUV. An employee later told police the man appeared to be searching for a way to start the vehicle before being yelled at to leave.
Police were called, and body camera footage reportedly shows an officer arriving on the scene. As the officer got out of his truck, the suspect allegedly ran toward it and tried to open the door. The officer ordered him to get on the ground, but when the man reportedly continued, he was tased and taken into custody.
Afterward, the suspect was examined at a local hospital and then taken to police headquarters. He allegedly tried to tamper with a camera during transport and later damaged a security camera inside a holding cell.
The girlfriend and friend told investigators they were unaware of his alleged intentions and were not arrested. The suspect is facing preliminary charges of three counts of grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of an occupied dwelling, and criminal mischief.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.