A Leesburg man, 23-year-old Jared Matthew Jones, was arrested early Monday morning after he was caught driving his mother’s stolen truck and was found with drugs during the arrest. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. at the Wawa parking lot located at 1395 W. North Blvd.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy, who was refueling his patrol car, noticed the red pickup truck parked in front of the store, matching the description of a vehicle reported stolen the previous Friday. The deputy confirmed the truck was listed as stolen in law enforcement databases and approached Jones, who was in the driver’s seat, along with a passenger.
During questioning, Jones admitted to taking the truck but claimed he was afraid to return it to his mother due to concerns about being arrested. Jones further confessed that he feared he would be charged with grand theft for taking the vehicle.
As the deputy searched Jones’ vehicle, they discovered a white powdery substance on his cell phone, which Jones identified as “Molly,” the street name for MDMA. The substance later tested positive for MDMA.
Jones was arrested on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. He was taken to the Lake County Jail, where he remains on a $6,000 bond. Jones is scheduled for a court appearance on March 24.