A Lady Lake woman was arrested Monday for her involvement in the theft of a truck from a 7-Eleven in Fruitland Park.
Hailey Alexis Johnson, 21, has been charged with grand theft auto after the incident at the 2058 U.S. Hwy. 27/441 7-Eleven last week, according to an affidavit of probable cause from the Fruitland Park Police Department.
On Oct. 18, an officer responded to 7-Eleven in reference to a report of a vehicle theft that just occurred. The male victim advised he arrived at the store at about 1:30 a.m. and parked his white 2010 Ford F150 near the main entrance. He entered the store, made his selections and went to the checkout counter, at which point he realized his vehicle was gone. The report noted that he left the truck running with the keys in the ignition.
The victim also stated that he had a loaded .38-caliber revolver concealed in the pocket behind the front passenger seat. He did not have payments to make on the truck, so it should not have been repossessed. The victim could not advise who would have taken the truck or which direction it went, the report said.
A store employee approached one of the officers and made him aware of a group of people who were present at the store during the time the truck was stolen. She stated she observed a woman wearing high-heel shoes, which she described as “stilettos,” with two other men. She did not see any of the suspects take the vehicle, the report said.
Members of the Fruitland Park Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to the immediate area to assist in finding the vehicle. A short while later, an officer with the Fruitland Park Police Department advised he had located the vehicle unoccupied in front of 2925 Arbor Ridge Drive, less than half a mile from the store, the report said.
A K9 unit with LCSO responded to the scene and conducted a scent track starting from the driver’s door of the vehicle. The K9 tracked directly behind the residence at 2905 Arbor Ridge Dr to a tent. Inside was man who was given orders to exit the tent and show his hands, to which he complied. He was placed in handcuffs for further investigation, the report said.
A search of the vehicle revealed that the firearm, a Smith & Wesson, was still in its original location and did not appear to have been fired as all rounds were accounted for. Officers could not find a key for the vehicle even after searching the man during a pat-down, the report said.
While on scene, officers made contact with several individuals from 2905 Arbor Ridge Dr that matched the description given by the 7-Eleven employee, including Johnson. The two men advised they were at the gas station around the time the truck was stolen because they were getting a pizza. They stated they came home and did not see the stolen truck parked in front of 2925 Arbor Ridge. Several minutes later, however, they stated they observed the truck enter the neighborhood and park at the mentioned residence with the headlights on. Neither saw anyone exit the vehicle and both believed someone was sitting inside of it. Both denied responsibility for the theft, the report said.
At about 9:50 a.m., the officer returned to 7-Eleven to collect video surveillance for the case. In the footage, one of the men and an unidentified woman were initially at a table eating pizza. Several minutes later, the second man and Johnson entered the store. After buying a pizza and wandering through the store, the man concealed a pair of black sunglasses from a rack in his pants. He then sat with Johnson for several minutes, the report said.
At about 1:28 a.m., the video showed the truck entering the parking lot and stopping in a spot in front of the store. The victim exited the truck from the driver’s seat. During this, Johnson stared in the direction of the truck, appearing to be watching the victim as he got out with the ignition on. The victim then entered the store, the report said.
Johnson left the store two minutes later. She walked back toward the gas pumps and paused momentarily. She proceeded to enter the truck through the driver’s side door, reversed out of the parking space and immediately left the scene headed toward the southbound exit onto US Hwy 27/441, the report said.
The report noted that during this time, the second man watched Johnson exit the store and approached the victim as he was browsing through the store. He spoke to the victim, continuously looking towards the door and then returning his attention to the victim. Once the truck was out of view, he, the other man and the unidentified woman quickly departed and began to travel in the same direction as the truck on foot while walking their bicycles.
Johnson was ultimately arrested by the Lady Lake Police Department on Monday evening in Tavares. She was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $2,000.
