A 29-year-old Ocala man with several prior theft convictions was arrested after one of his relatives accused him of stealing a bicycle.
On Saturday, June 24, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal responded to the 5500 block of NW 57th Street in Ocala in reference to a stolen bike. Prior to arriving at the incident location, the corporal was notified by dispatch that the theft suspect, identified as Eddie Dontae Woods, had been spotted near the intersection of NW 57th Avenue and NW 65th Place, according to the arrest report.
The corporal noted in the report that the area of NW 57th Avenue and NW 65th Place was searched, and law enforcement was unable to locate Woods. After the unsuccessful search, the corporal arrived at the 5500 block of NW 57th Street and made contact with the female victim who advised that Woods had stolen a Schwinn bike from her backyard.
The MCSO report stated that the stolen bike was valued at $500. The victim told the corporal that a neighbor had observed Woods taking the bike from the victim’s backyard.
The victim advised that she had spotted Woods on the stolen bike near the intersection of NW 57th Avenue and NW 65th Place. She stated that she confronted him about the theft, and he claimed that he “needed it for transportation.” He then “took off,” and she contacted law enforcement.
On Sunday, June 25, the corporal conducted a criminal history search of Woods, which revealed that he has prior theft convictions in 2015 for grand theft (over $300 but less than $5,000) and grand theft (four counts). These convictions were in Marion County.
The MCSO report stated that the corporal then searched the Ocala Park Estates area and located Woods in the 5200 block of NW 65th Place. After being read his Miranda rights, Woods refused to discuss the incident, according to the MCSO report.
The corporal returned to the incident location and made contact with the victim’s neighbor who advised that Woods had come to her residence requesting ice shortly before the theft. After she gave Woods a bag of ice, she advised that Woods walked across the street to the victim’s home, and he was observed leaving the backyard area with the victim’s bike, according to the MCSO report.
The neighbor showed the corporal a photo that was taken at the time of the theft. The corporal noted in the report that the photo showed the male suspect leaving on the victim’s bike. Due to previous interactions with Woods, the corporal “believed (the suspect) to be him.”
Woods was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $5,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for second-degree petit theft (third or subsequent offense).
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25, according to jail records.