PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WFLA) — A convicted felon reportedly tried to flee from deputies via a drainage pipe Friday after he was caught loading a stolen chainsaw and different garden provides into his truck.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Workplace stated deputies obtained a name from a house owner that day who instructed them he had simply chased a thief out of his storage.
Earlier than he was noticed, the suspect, later recognized as 52-year-old Thomas Maldonado, had reportedly managed to take the sufferer’s chainsaw, weed eater, and leaf blower and cargo them into his mild grey Toyota Tundra.
Officers stated the home-owner was capable of notice the license plate quantity on the truck as he was chasing Maldonado. He additionally offered an outline of the alleged thief, stating that the person was of a medium construct and had a bald head.
A deputy within the space noticed a car and driver matching the outline on Halfway Boulevard. Authorities stated Maldonado instantly bought out of the truck and began operating after the deputy activated his emergency lights.
Deputies then swarmed the world, and a helicopter crew was deployed to seek for Maldonado. Officers stated it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the crew noticed Maldonado laying between a wooded space and a small waterway.
The pilot directed deputies to the placement, however after seeing the helicopter, Maldonado reportedly crawled right into a drainage culvert. As he exited the opposite facet, which got here out onto Kings Freeway, extra deputies have been ready to take him into custody.
Maldonado was arrested and charged with the next:
- Housebreaking of an occupied dwelling (Felony)
- Grand theft greater than $300 however lower than $5,000 (Felony)
- Fleeing or making an attempt to elude (Felony)
- Resisting officer with out violence
- Knowingly driving whereas license revoked
- Violation of probation
Along with these expenses, Maldonado was served with a warrant out of DeSoto County for violation of probation, the sheriff’s workplace stated. He was booked into the Charlotte County Jail with out bond.
“This particular person was brazen sufficient to commit these crimes in broad daylight with the home-owner current. He clearly has no regard for the regulation, and his actions present that he belongs behind bars,” Charlotte County Sheriff Invoice Prummell stated. “As we enter the vacation season, it’s a time to be pleased about what we’ve got — and we should always not need to look over our shoulder to verify what we’ve got continues to be there and never taken by somebody who didn’t earn it.”
