- April 26, 2024
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A 25-year-old Palm Coast man was arrested June 28 after stealing pickup truck at a 7-Eleven store after the truck's owners left the keys in the ignition while shopping.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a stolen vehicle at the store at about 11:30 a.m. The victim.
At the same time as the FCSO was responding to the 7-Eleven call, a property manager at Beach Village Apartments, located behind the 7-Eleven store, reported a suspicious person with a description matching the suspect who stole the tuck.
The FCSO was able to confirm that the male from the 7-Eleven incident was the suspicious person near the apartments.
The property manager was able to identify him as William Demetrius Kitts, and said that Kitts was running erratically around the complex and looks to be under the influence of a narcotic.
Kitts said, “You have a gun,” and then ran away, the manager said.
At about 12:30 p.m., the owner of the stolen car called the dispatch center and said he found his truck: His boss had noticed it sitting empty at the intersection of Old Kings Road North and Town Center Boulevard.
The FCSO K-9 Unit and Fire Flight responded to search for the suspect, but, soon thereafter, the FCSO received a call from a father stating his son needed to be Baker Acted.
The man said that his son came running into the home with a gain knob from a car stereo, saying people were after him, and talking to the television. The man asked the FCSO to do a welfare check.
Deputies located the son — Kitts — at a home on Porral Place.
He was asked if he wanted to harm himself or others. He said no, but then quietly said, “I bet you’re here because of the gray truck.”
He then said he was in a predicament and needed to take the truck. The knob Kitts had in his possession was missing from the victim’s pickup.
This was not Kitts’ first encounter with law enforcement: He’s been previously charged in Flagler County for Burglary, Marijuana Possession, Sexual Battery, Felony Child Abuse, Trespassing After Warning, Resisting Officer Without Violence, Disorderly Intoxication – Narcotics and Criminal Mischief.
“This guy is no stranger to the Green Roof Inn,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “He’s been a frequent visitor over the last few years. Drugs will make you do stupid things. Great job to all deputies and 911 center staff for handling this situation so thoroughly. I’m thankful no one was hurt and that his father did the right thing by calling us for help.”
Kitts was arrested and taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. He is charged with Grand Theft Auto and being held on a $2,500 bond.
