Car thief arrested after fleeing

A 18-year-old man who fled from Sheriff’s Office deputies after running a stop sign in a stolen car out of Key West was arrested early Friday morning in Marathon.

Jesus Perez of Key West was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest without violence, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a valid license.

Middle Keys Road Patrol Deputy Corbin Hradecky was on patrol at 1:23 a.m. when he saw a Toyota Camry, the driver was later identified as Perez, run a stop sign at 26th Street. Perez was stopped at U.S. 1 and 55th Street, where he exited the car with a backpack in his hands before running away from the scene. Other Sheriff’s Office, Key Colony Beach Police, Florida Highway Patrol and U.S. Border Patrol officers helped in the ensuing search.

Perez was later found hiding in the back of a nearby dump truck. Marijuana and a marijuana grinder were found in the backpack.

The owner of the car in Key West told officers the vehicle was unlocked and the keys were left in the ignition.

Perez was taken to the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island.

Additional charges of possession of cocaine and smuggling contraband into a detention facility were added when Corrections Deputies found cocaine in Perez’s wallet.

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