Original Blog Entry: Car thief found playing 'Grand Theft Auto'

truesee — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:02:13 GMT

Deputies seek car theft suspect, find him playing 'Grand Theft Auto'

Roger Simmons

Orlando Sentinel

1:32 p.m. EST, January 22, 2010

When Polk County deputies tracked down a suspect in the theft of a 1998 Dodge Durango, they were surprised by what they found the suspect sitting on a couch playing the video game Grand Theft Auto.

The saga began around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday when Polk County Sheriff's detectives said they received information about the location of a stolen green 1998 Dodge Durango.

The vehicle had been reported stolen from the Sebring Wal-Mart parking lot.

Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives, along with other law enforcement units, responded to a residence in Haines City, where the stolen Durango was found in front of the home.

Inside, detectives located suspect Michael Ray Ekes, 30, of Haines City. Deputies said he was sitting on a couch playing Grand Theft Auto. Ekes was placed under arrest. The home's owners, Scott Boozer and Janet Dees, were also inside the residence but have not been charged, deputies said.

Detectives said they found a syringe filled with methamphetamine inside Ekes' pants pocket. Ekes told detectives he shoots meth and had just finished using before detectives arrived.

Ekes was already out on bail for previous charges of . . . wait for it . . . two counts of grand theft auto.

When asked if the Grand Theft Auto video game was anything like the real thing, the Sheriff's Offices said Elks replied, It's a blast.

Crime is not a game, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. Real life crime, has real life consequences and I hope he goes to prison for a good long while, where they don't have Grand Theft Auto video games.

Ekes was charged with burglary of a conveyance, grand theft auto, possession of burglary tools with intent to use, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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