A man who was charged with theft of a motor vehicle this past February was arrested Friday by Lake County deputies on a warrant alleging he had missed an Oct. 24 court date.
Leesburg officers had been dispatched to the Wawa at 1400 West North Boulevard on Feb. 21 where a couple had reported that a man, later identified as 24-year-old Raheem Evans of Toledo, Ohio, had taken their van when they were in the store.
The husband and wife were able to follow the stolen van in another car while calling police. The couple had been able to follow the van because the wife left her cellphone in the vehicle so they could track its movements. As the vehicle moved into Sumter County, deputies attempted to stop the van which fled at a high rate of speed. Deputies did not pursue to safeguard the public.
Leesburg officers viewed the store’s security video which showed Evans stealing the van. Evans, who stands 6 feet 8 inches tall, was known to the officers from previous encounters.
Evans was captured later in the day with the van and was taken to the Lake County Jail. He was held in jail until April 11 when his motion for release on his own recognizance was granted.
After last week’s arrest, Evans was jailed without bond. His next court date is Nov. 28.
