A 19-year-old Belleview man was arrested for grand theft after he was allegedly caught pushing a moped on a roadway shortly after it had been reported stolen.
On Wednesday, October 2, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the 13000 block of SE 109th Terrace in Ocklawaha in reference to a stolen vehicle. A woman had told law enforcement that two men were “actively” stealing a white moped from a nearby residence, according to the arrest report.
When the deputy arrived on scene, a skinny man, identified in the report as Kodah Blaise Gaylord, was allegedly observed “pushing the stolen (moped)” near the 10700 block of SE 131st Lane.
While being detained in handcuffs, Gaylord told the deputy that he had “just obtained” the moped a few minutes prior to the deputy’s arrival. The report stated that Gaylord claimed to have “traded an electric bicycle for the vehicle.”
The victim told law enforcement that no one was authorized to come onto the victim’s property and take the moped.
The deputy noted in the report that video surveillance footage of the incident was obtained, which showed two men “entering the yard.” One of the men appeared to be skinny and wore clothing that matched the outfit that Gaylord was wearing.
According to the deputy’s notes, Gaylord allegedly began pushing the moped out of the yard while the second unidentified man “walked with him.” The footage then allegedly showed Gaylord pushing the moped onto SE 109th Terrace before pushing the vehicle in a southbound direction.
After being read his Miranda rights, Gaylord initially claimed that he had traded his bicycle for the moped. When the deputy confronted Gaylord about the video footage of the incident, Gaylord allegedly stated that he would “have to be the one to go to jail” since he was “in possession of the vehicle,” according to the report.
Gaylord was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $3,000 bond. He is being charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.