Nearly Naked Teen Caught Driving Stolen Truck: Deputies

HOLIDAY, FL — A 17-year-old runaway from New Port Richey faces a long list of charges after Pasco County deputies happened upon him in a state of near undress Tuesday morning.

According to the sheriff’s office, several deputies were meeting with their supervisor at Anclote Park, 1119 Baillies Bluff Road, Tuesday morning when a park employee pointed out a few illegally parked vehicles. Happy to help out, the deputies started writing warnings to place on the vehicles.

It was when a deputy approached a black Dodge pickup that the 17-year-old revealed himself, the sheriff’s office wrote on its K-9 Association Facebook page Tuesday. Deputies say the teenager sat up, fired up the truck and drove away, “causing the deputy to jump out of the way.” The truck hit a few posts on its way out of the park.

The deputy jumped in his cruiser and pursued, the agency reported. That pursuit, however, didn’t last very long.

The truck struck a power pole on Baillies Bluff Road and then ran into another vehicle, causing minor damage. The driver of the other vehicle, who hasn’t been identified, was not injured, the sheriff’s office said.

Right after the crash, the boy “wearing only his underwear,” took off into a wooded area. He left an adult female behind in the truck, the sheriff’s office said. She suffered minor injuries.

At that point, Deputy Nick Carmack and K9 Shep were deployed to catch the scantily clad teen. They caught up with him right after he jumped a fence at Anclote High School. Deputy Al-Hussein Hazime, the school’s resource officer, brought him into custody, the sheriff's office reported.

With the teenager under wraps, deputies began to investigate further. The truck, the agency reported, had been stolen out of Port Richey. The teen, as it turned out, was reported as a runaway to the New Port Richey Police Department.

The boy, who is not being identified by Patch due to his age, now faces a long list of charges. Those charges include grand theft auto, fleeing to elude and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. The teen also had outstanding warrants, the agency noted.

The adult woman left behind in the stolen truck does not face charges at this time, Kevin Doll, sheriff’s office spokesman, said. Her name has not been released.

Photo courtesy of the Pasco Sheriff's K-9 Association

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