On Tuesday morning, a Milwaukee teenager, Jayden Reed, 17, was pulled over for speeding in a school zone in Flagler County. Deputy Carter gave Reed a warning after he explained he was unfamiliar with the area. Hours later, the Sheriff’s Office was alarmed to discover that the same car Reed was driving had been reported stolen and Reed himself had been declared missing in Wisconsin. Reed and an 18-year-old passenger, Katie Stevens, were apprehended at a gas station in Palm Coast following an intensive operation by Deputy Schmidt and additional units.
Further investigations revealed that Reed had taken the vehicle from his father, who was away on business, after being prohibited from driving it due to a reckless driving incident in Green Bay
Reed was charged with Grand Theft Auto and sent to a local detention facility. Stevens, on the other hand, was also involved in the criminal activity and now faces charges of Grand Theft Auto and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, alongside a $2,000 bond while being detained in the county facility.
Sheriff Rick Staly commended his team’s quick and efficient response in a potentially dangerous situation, ensuring the safe recovery of the stolen car, the capture of the missing juvenile, and the arrest of his adult accomplice.
The law enforcement agency successfully prevented a potentially hazardous scenario involving Reed, a stolen vehicle, and a missing person report from Wisconsin, ultimately charging Reed with Grand Theft Auto based on the evidence gathered. Meanwhile, Stevens’ claims of traveling with her boyfriend, who was arrested during their Florida trip, did not prevent her from being charged with aiding and abetting Reed in his illegal activities.