The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
Last week, two men were arrested for allegedly stealing a deputy’s firearm from a bathroom at a RaceTrac gas station in Oviedo, Florida.
On August 29, around 5:30 p.m., a Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped at the RaceTrac gas station to use the bathroom. While inside, the deputy placed his vest on the ground and his gun belt over the handicapped railing in the stall. After finishing, the deputy put his vest and gun belt back on and left to respond to another call.
Not long after, the deputy realized his firearm was missing. He returned to the gas station to look for it and wondered if someone might have taken it while he was in the stall. When surveillance footage was reviewed, it showed that the deputy was alone in the bathroom. After he left, two men went into the bathroom, and when they exited, one of them appeared to have a noticeable bulge in his waistband. It was believed he had taken the deputy’s missing gun.
Investigators identified the two men from the video and went to their homes. One of the suspects reportedly admitted that they had taken the Sig Sauer P320 and sold it to someone else for $40. The other suspect gave a different story when they spoke to the police. He was believed to be initially untruthful, but later allegedly admitted to picking up the gun and putting it in his waistband before he left the bathroom. It was reported that neither of them reported the found firearm to law enforcement or gas station employees.
Both men were taken into custody and booked into the Seminole County Jail. They are each facing multiple felony charges, including grand theft of a firearm, failure to report lost or abandoned property, and dealing in stolen property.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.