60.9 F
Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

Massachusetts man arrested in Ocala after refusing to return rental vehicle arrested for grand theft  

A 33-year-old Massachusetts man was arrested in Ocala after being spotted in a stolen rental vehicle.

On November 3, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to N U.S. Highway 441 in Ocala in reference to a stolen vehicle.

While patrolling the area, the deputy observed a 2021 Jeep Wrangler that matched the stolen vehicle’s description, and a check of the license plate confirmed it was the stolen vehicle.

According to the MCSO report, the deputy observed a man approach the jeep and climb inside with a bag of groceries. The man was later identified as Chad Patrick Gaughan.
Man refuses to return rental car arrested for grand theft
Chad Patrick Gaughan

Gaughan agreed to speak with the deputy and told him that he rented the jeep from Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Massachusetts in August.

According to Gaughan, his insurance company was supposed to be working with Enterprise to cover payments for the jeep rental because his personal vehicle was being held in a tow lot.

The insurance company stopped paying the rental fee and Enterprise contacted Gaughan for payment. He refused to make a payment or return the jeep in hopes that the insurance company would resolve the matter.

On November 2, Enterprise notified Gaughan that the jeep would be listed as stolen if he refused to return it. He told the deputy that he was trying to make it to Naples and had hoped that he would not get caught by law enforcement.

The deputy contacted the Everette Police Department in Massachusetts and was informed that Gaughan was supposed to return the jeep to Enterprise back on October 1.

Gaughan was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he faces a felony charge for grand theft of a motor vehicle.

He was released on bond and a court date has been scheduled on December 7 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.