Teen Stole DCF Employee's Car Before I-4 Police Pursuit: Deputies

LAKELAND, FL - The Interstate 4 police pursuit that tied up traffic for hours Monday morning involved a DCF employee's car that had been stolen by a 16-year-old girl, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

The girl was released Sunday from the Juvenile Assessment Center for violation of parole and was at the office of the Florida Department of Children and Families in Lakeland with an employee. While the 16-year-old was waiting to be transported to a group home, the girl went into the DCF employee’s purse, removed her keys and stole her 2016 Nissan Rogue from the parking lot.

After stealing the SUV, Polk County sheriff's deputies say the girl, a 17-year-old boy and 20-year-old Dustin Cheasebro committed an armed robbery at a Lakeland convenience store. Lakeland police spotted the trio in the stolen SUV at 10:20 a.m. Monday near the area of Lavon Street and Kathleen Road in Lakeland. The vehicle fled from officers and a pursuit started westbound on Interstate 4, police said.

Lakeland police arrested the driver and four passengers in the stolen vehicle after a pursuit on I-4, Lakeland police said. The stolen vehicle attempted to change lanes near I-275 in Hillsborough County and the driver lost control and struck a transport van.

After the crash, the 17-year-old boy, driver of the car, fled on foot, leaving behind the passengers. A Lakeland police K9 apprehended the driver a short distance away, police said. The driver and the four passengers were transported to Tampa General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The area surrounding the vehicle crash was cordoned off with assistance from the Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol. All four lanes of I-4 were blocked for about an hour and a single lane for several hours.

Deputies charged the trio with robbery with a firearm and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. The 16-year-old girl also was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and petit theft.

During the investigation, the trio admitted to deputies that they committed the armed robbery on Sunday, Nov. 19, about 11:43 p.m., at the Circle K, 4415 Old Kathleen Road, Lakeland, deputies said. Cheasebro approached the counter armed with a pistol, demanding a carton of Newport cigarettes and money from the two registers, deputies said.

"How many examples of juveniles committing serious crimes do we need for the Department of Juvenile Justice to understand this is a problem? We have a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old committing robbery with a firearm and fleeing from officers in a pursuit. They are lucky they didn't hurt themselves or anyone else. I'm thankful for the Lakeland Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Florida Highway Patrol for their assistance in getting these dangerous suspects behind bars," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

Detectives said they found the .22 caliber pistol that was used and clothing worn by Cheasebro during the robbery. Detectives also said they found Newport cigarettes and money inside the vehicle.

The teens were transported to Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center to await extradition. Cheasebro was transported to the Hillsborough County jail to await extradition.

Details about the other two juveniles in the stolen vehicle have not been released.

Images via Lakeland Police Department