Florida man arrested after allegedly attempting to steal 2 lawn mowers, fleeing, lying about identity
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Florida man arrested after allegedly attempting to steal 2 lawn mowers, fleeing, lying about identity
Deputies say they arrested Willee Parker, 42, on multiple charges, including grand theft, trespassing, providing a false name to law enforcement and violation of probation.
The Brief
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- The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said they arrested Willee Parker, 42, on Saturday, Jan. 11, in Palm Coast.
- Deputies stated they arrested Parker on multiple charges after he attempted to steal two lawn mowers from Home Depot, ran from the police and lied about his identity.
- Official reports show Parker is being charged with grand theft, trespassing, providing a false name to law enforcement and violation of probation.
- Parker was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond, sheriffs said.
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies said they recently arrested a Florida man on multiple charges after he attempted to steal two lawn mowers from Home Depot, ran from the police and lied about his identity.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said the man has been identified as 42-year-old Willee Parker.
Official reports show Parker is being charged with grand theft, trespassing, providing a false name to law enforcement and violation of probation.
Parker was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond, sheriffs said.
Deputies said they arrested Willee Parker, 42, on multiple charges. (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
Tracking the investigation
The Backstory: On the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 11, deputies said they responded to a shoplifting incident at Home Depot in Palm Coast.
Officials said they spoke to the store’s asset protection investigator, who stated a man, who was recognized from previous encounters, had attempted to steal two lawn mowers from the store. Officers said the man was identified as Parker. The employee said he then confronted Parker in the parking lot, and Parker fled, abandoning the lawn mowers, reports show.
What We Know: Deputies in the area said they observed a person matching Parker’s description entering a nearby gas station. When they entered the gas station, officials stated, the clerk told them Parker was in the bathroom. When Parker left the bathroom, deputies reported they positively identified him as the suspect and arrested him.
RELATED: Palm Coast man arrested for grand theft auto following police surveillance
‘He hasn’t learned his lesson’
What They’re Saying: Deputies said Parker admitted to trying to steal the lawn mowers, but he gave a false name and birthday. When asked why he lied, Parker stated “because I have warrants,” reports show.
“This guy apparently has not learned his lesson, because he keeps trying to steal and keeps getting caught,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. “And not only that, he knew he had warrants, came into our county and tried to lie to our deputies. Let this be a lesson to criminals that you can’t get away with any of that in Flagler County! If you’re a fugitive or a thief, you (had) better avoid Flagler County!”
What’s Next: Officers said they also found that Parker had been previously trespassed from Home Depot in 2023.
Records show Parker was arrested for grand theft, trespassing, providing a false name to law enforcement and violation of probation.
He also was arrested on his out-of-county warrants, sheriffs stated.
Officials said Park was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond.
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Duo busted: Home Depot theft foiled months after previous heist
A duo was arrested after attempting to steal nearly $300 worth of merchandise from the Port St. Lucie Home Depot, just months after a $1,800 heist at the same location. (SLCSO)
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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A duo was arrested after attempting to steal nearly $300 worth of merchandise from the Port St. Lucie Home Depot, just months after a $1,800 heist at the same location.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department said they responded to a report of retail theft at the Home Depot located at 2200 SW Gatlin Boulevard at 11:50 AM on Tuesday.
The suspects, identified as Adonis Perez-Gutierrez, 48, and Antonio Gonzalez-Martinez, 50, both from Hialeah, are believed to be linked to a previous theft at the same store in February.
Officials said that in the previous theft on February 10, Perez-Gutierrez took over $1,800 worth of items and placed it into his shopping cart, quickly exiting the store without paying until an employee was able to stop him, but he fled the scene.
According to PSLPD, on Tuesday, a Home Depot employee saw Perez-Gutierrez put $299 worth of merchandise into a tote as his accomplice Gonzales-Martinez acted as a lookout.
See also: Hospice worker accused of exploiting patient, steals $7K
The report states that when they realized they had been spotted, the suspects abandoned the cart and quickly left the store, getting into a silver Hyundai Santa Fe— the same vehicle used in the previous theft.
Officers reported that they located the vehicle as it entered the I-95 southbound entrance ramp from Southwest Gatlin Boulevard. A traffic stop was conducted, resulting in the arrest of both suspects without incident.
Perez-Gutierrez now faces charges of Retail Theft Over $750 in Coordination with Others and Grand Theft, and is being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Gonzalez-Martinez has been charged with Retail Theft Over $750 in Coordination with Others and is currently being held without bond.
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