By Jeff Waters, Democrat Reporter
Police say a Live Oak man stole a truck from a local business so he could visit his girlfriend in Mayo, then got caught trying to return it.
Eighteen-year-old John Wesley Cruz, of 13054 167th Road, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Suwannee county Jail, according to sheriff's reports.
Cruz allegedly took a 2000 Ford Pickup with a dual-axle trailer that was carrying four Kawasaki four wheelers and five Stihl weed eaters from Suwannee Forest Products on CR 795 at around 5:43 a.m. The owner of the business, Anthony Nobles, told deputies the value of the items was $25,000.
According to reports, SCSO Deputy Wayne Kelly observed the stolen vehicle drive by the business headed north on CR 795 as he and SCSO Deputy Donald Brown were investigating the theft. Brown then conducted a traffic stop and placed Cruz under arrest, reports show. Cruz reportedly told Brown that he was staying at a friend’s home across the road from the business and wanted to go to Mayo to see his girlfriend, so he took the truck after finding the door was unlocked with the keys inside. Cruz reportedly added that he took the truck to Penn Oil Company at I-10 and US 129, filled the tank with $10 in diesel fuel, then drove to McDonald's to eat before heading to Mayo. Cruz stated after driving to Mayo he decided to return the truck but continued driving past Suwannee Forest Products when he saw sheriff's deputies at the business.
Cruz was charged with grand theft auto and transported to the Suwannee County Jail.
