A 44-year-old Reddick man was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after a victim used a cellphone app to track the location of a stolen truck.
On Tuesday, an MCSO deputy responded to the 18600 block of NW 53rd Court Road in Reddick in reference to a stolen Ford F-550 truck. Prior to the deputy’s arrival, MCSO discovered that the male victim who owned the truck was able to track its location on his cellphone.
The MCSO report indicated that the vehicle was tracking in the area of Highway 40 and SW 27th Avenue in Ocala. The deputy notified the Ocala Police Department and other MCSO deputies to be on the lookout for the vehicle in that area
Upon arrival at the incident location, the deputy made contact with the victim. He told the deputy that he was working on his farm when he discovered that his truck was missing from the property.
According to the victim, no other person was authorized to use the truck. The victim stated that additional items on his property had been manipulated, but the vehicle appeared to be the only thing that was missing.
The victim continued to track the vehicle on his cellphone and provided updates to the deputy and MCSO dispatch. A relative of the victim was assisting in locating the stolen truck and managed to spot the vehicle in the 100 block of SW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Ocala.
The victim’s relative made contact with the man who was operating the vehicle and ordered him to step outside. The man, later identified as Joshua Bryant Hibbard, exited the truck, and a physical altercation ensued between Hibbard and the victim’s relative.
Multiple units from OPD and MCSO arrived at the 100 block of SW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, and Hibbard was detained in handcuffs.
The deputy who had spoken with the victim also arrived at the scene and made contact with Hibbard. After being read his Miranda rights, Hibbard confirmed that he had driven the victim’s truck.
Hibbard claimed that he was unaware that the truck was stolen. He told the deputy that a man named “Chris” had met him in the Reddick area and gave him the vehicle to use for the day. According to the MCSO report, Hibbard was unable to provide any further information regarding “Chris.”
The MCSO report stated that the victim’s truck had a broken front driver’s side window and glass was on the front seat. The vehicle’s passenger side, including the front passenger side rim, was also damaged.
A dark colored bag was located on the passenger floorboard and a blue bicycle was on the back of the truck. The victim told investigators that these items did not belong to him.
When the deputy asked Hibbard about the bag and bicycle that were found, Hibbard confirmed that both items were his. He also told the deputy that he did not notice the broken window and he was unaware that there was glass on the seat.
Hibbard was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $25,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for grand theft of a motor vehicle.
A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, October 11 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.