Two suspects were arrested Tuesday in Charlotte County after being accused of stealing marine equipment from boats at a storage lot using a stolen vehicle tied to crimes across multiple counties.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, detectives were alerted by Hillsborough County authorities about a stolen white 2005 Ford E350 van entering the area.
The vehicle, with a stolen Maryland license plate, had been identified as connected to burglaries in Hillsborough, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties.
Deputies tracked the van to a storage lot on Duncan Road, where the suspects were seen removing GPS units from boats.
Detectives, supported by an aviation unit, followed the stolen vehicle and initiated a felony traffic stop as the car drove toward the lot's exit.
Both suspects surrendered and were taken into custody.
An inventory of the van revealed three stolen GPS units, 3.2 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and tools stolen from Hillsborough County.
Investigators are verifying additional stolen items found in the vehicle.
The suspects, identified as Michel Suarez Legon, 46, and Yoenys Trujillo Ruiz, 35, face numerous charges in Charlotte County. These include burglary, grand theft, drug possession, and driving with a revoked license.
Officials noted the charges pertain only to Charlotte County, with additional charges pending from other jurisdictions.
This investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to connect the suspects to other reported thefts in the region.