A Leesburg man accused of stealing his mother’s pickup truck had another charge added when drugs were found in the vehicle during his arrest in a Wawa parking lot early Monday.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy was pumping gas into his patrol car at the store, located at 1395 W. North Blvd., at around 2 a.m. when he observed a red pickup truck parked in front of the store that matched the description of a truck that had been reported stolen the previous Friday. The deputy was aware that the suspect was the vehicle owner’s son: 23-year-old Jared Matthew Jones, of 1503 Veech Road, according to the sheriff’s office report.
After confirming the vehicle was entered into the NCIC/FCIC as stolen, the deputy approached Jones, who was in the driver’s seat, and his passenger. Both were detained and read their Miranda Warning. Jones told the deputy he didn’t know the truck was stolen, but then said he was afraid to return the truck to his mother, who had asked for it numerous times, because he was afraid law enforcement would be at her residence to arrest him, the report said.
The deputy asked why he thought he would be arrested, and Jones said, “For grand theft.” Asked what he meant, Jones said, “Grand theft for the truck. For taking the truck.” It was determined Jones’ passenger had no knowledge of the truck being stolen and he was released at the scene, according to the report.
While removing Jones’ cell phone from the vehicle, the deputy observed a white powdery substance in small concentrated mounds on the screen. Asked what the substance was, Jones said it was “Molly,” the street name for MDMA. The substance later tested positive for MDMA, the report said.
Jones was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance (MDMA) and taken to the Lake County Jail. He was still being held Wednesday evening on $6,000 bond. Jones is scheduled to appear in Lake County Court on March 24.
