Two Leesburg men were arrested in the theft of a furniture store’s truck.
The truck was stolen from Babette’s Furniture & Home Store which has locations in Leesburg and at Brownwood Paddock Square in The Villages.
Lake County sheriff’s deputies contacted the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office to report that the “freshly” stolen truck was traveling at about 11 a.m. Tuesday on State Road 44 toward Sumter County, according to an arrest report.
A deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as 40-year-old Anthony Ray Ambrose, kept driving and headed for the Florida Turnpike. Before reaching the turnpike, Ambrose drove the truck directly at a squad car from the Wildwood Police Department, which had joined in the pursuit. The truck also endangered other motorists in the area.
Ambrose ditched the truck along the turnpike and ran toward a wooded area, but was apprehended. He was in possession of a needle which had a residue which tested positive for methamphetamine. He was also driving on a suspended license.
A passenger in the truck was identified as 37-year-old Bryan David Farr, also of Leesburg. He was in possession of a pipe which tested positive for methamphetamine.
Both men were arrested on charges of vehicle theft, as well as drug-related charges.
Ambrose was booked without bond at the Sumter County Detention Center. He was already on probation at the time of his arrest. Farr was booked at the jail on $5,000 bond.
