- April 23, 2024
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Deputies arrested two 16-year-old boys May 31 on grand theft auto charges, and linked the pair to a series of other crimes.
“Our detectives have already solved 13 cases including burglary and auto thefts committed by these kids during their crime spree," Sheriff Rick Staly said in a Sheriff's Office news release. "Parents need to take responsibility and know where their kids are and what they are doing. Otherwise, we will keep arresting them until they go to a juvenile reform school and ultimately state prison.”
Deputies are also searching for another male they believe is involved. That individual has a blue Mohawk hairstyle, lives in Espanola and goes by the name "Rick," according to the news release.
Deputies honed in on the two 16-year-olds when a 26-year-old local man reported at about 5:49 a.m. May 31 that his Chevrolet Silverado had been stolen from his driveway on Palm Coast's Zoffwood Court overnight.
The pickup truck had OnStar, and the victim was able to track the stolen truck while giving the dispatcher updates on its location.
He first said the pickup was stationary on Knox Jones Road in Bunnell. Then it headed south on County Road 13, then south on U.S. 1 before heading east on State Road 100 and onto South Anderson Street, then circling the Housing Authority.
A deputy spotted the truck, and deputies conducted a felony traffic stop at the intersection of South Anderson Street and East Court Street, according to an arrest affidavit.
There were two 16-year-old boys in the pickup, one of whom deputies were familiar with from previous investigations.
Deputies arrested both boys and charged them with grand theft auto. More charges are pending, according to the news release. The 26-year-old's wallet was also stolen from the truck, and was not found, according to the affidavit.
As deputies investigated the auto theft, according to the news release, they found evidence that the two boys had gone on an overnight crime spree, stealing another car and burglarizing several vehicles in southern Palm Coast.
Both boys were interviewed at the Sheriff's Office Operations Center, but what they told deputies is redacted in their arrest affidavits.
Both vehicles were found and returned to their owners. Deputies believe other suspects may be involved and more victims may come forward.
The Sheriff's Office has asked anyone with information on the male with the blue Mohawk in Espanola to call the Sheriff’s Office's non-emergency line at 386-313-4911, or, to stay anonymous, to call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477.
