A Florida man is facing multiple charges after his attempt to steal a car failed.
It failed for a few reasons:
- He chose to attempt to steal a cop car
- The cop was INSIDE the car
- The car was parked and running outside of the police station
Fort Pierce Officer Robie Troutman sat in his patrol car with the engine running in front of the Fort Pierce police station at around 5 a.m. July 17th. He was writing up a report -- business as usual, until a man attempted to steal the department car he was sitting in.
“While in my vehicle, I heard the rear passenger side door handle make noise and then the front passenger side door handle make noise, where I was positioned seated in the driver seat of my clearly marked Fort Pierce Police Department Patrol vehicle,” Troutman said in a police report.
Troutman opened the car door and saw 20-year-old Aaron Orlando Rodriguez III. Rodriquez fled and was found hiding behind another car.
“Rodriguez said he saw my vehicle was running so he attempted to steal the vehicle so he had a ride home,” said Troutman.
Rodriquez was also found to have a pipe with marijuana residue on him.
He was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted grand theft of a motor vehicle, loitering and prowling and possession of drug equipment.