A 34-year-old man was arrested after allegedly stealing a car in Tampa and driving it to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office headquarters in Ocala.
An MCSO deputy was outside of the headquarters at around 5 p.m. on Friday, April 24, when he was approached by a man who was later identified as Erik James Drake, according to the arrest report.
Drake allegedly told the deputy that he “had just stolen the vehicle he arrived in.” The deputy noted in the report that the vehicle in question was a “silver in color passenger car,” and a computer search of its license plate revealed that it had been reported stolen out of Tampa.
After being advised of his Miranda rights, Drake reportedly told the deputy that he resides at the Good Samaritan Inn located on N Florida Avenue in Tampa. He allegedly advised that he was “walking in the area of Florida Avenue [while] looking for a vehicle to steal” when he spotted the silver car.
According to Drake, the car’s engine was running with the key inside, and he “decided to take the vehicle and travel north” in order to “visit his mother in Sumter County.”
Drake then reportedly drove to Marion County and “ended up at the MCSO [headquarters],” where he allegedly admitted to the vehicle theft.
The deputy notified Tampa police regarding this incident and then placed Drake under arrest. He was booked into Marion County Jail, where he remains in custody.
Drake’s bond has been set at $2,500, and he has been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Jail records show that Drake is scheduled to appear in a Marion County courtroom at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26.