A 52-year-old Ocala man on felony probation was arrested after a deputy spotted him in a stolen vehicle.
On Wednesday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed a 2001 Buick car traveling northbound on N U.S. Highway 441 near W Highway 326 in Ocala.
The deputy conducted a computer search of the vehicle’s license plate and discovered that it had been reported stolen.
According to the MCSO report, the deputy followed the vehicle northbound and additional deputies joined the pursuit. A traffic stop was attempted at the 8500 block of N U.S. Highway 441 and the vehicle refused to stop.
The vehicle continued northbound on N U.S. Highway 441 at a low speed. At around the 9800 block of N. U.S. Highway 441, the deputy performed a P.I.T. maneuver which disabled the vehicle.
The driver and sole occupant, Johnny Charles Allen, Jr., was detained.
The MCSO report indicated that Allen only had a learner’s permit and it had expired on March 2, 2021.
When asked about the vehicle, Allen stated that he had stolen it from a parking lot on Tuesday. He also admitted that his driver’s license was not valid.
Allen was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $4,500 bond. He is facing felony charges for fleeing a law enforcement officer and grand theft of a vehicle.
At the time of the arrest, Allen was on felony probation for five counts of burglary of an occupied dwelling, armed burglary of a dwelling, and 11 counts of grand theft (less than $20,000).
A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, February 15 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.