Man Remains Jailed on Vehicle Theft Charges

A man whose first stolen vehicle deputies said ran out of gas and the second ended up in a lake half-way across the county, remained in jail Wednesday on $7,000 bail.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said Joseph Nils Lucas stole his first vehicle at 9:30 p.m Monday from a Dunkin’ Donuts in Land O’ Lakes.

The stolen vehicle ran out of gas down the road from the Dunkin’ Donuts, according to Kevin Doll, Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

Before dawn Tuesday, Lucas, 28, of Tarpon Springs, stole a pickup truck. A deputy saw it peeling out from a 7-Eleven at 12852 State Road 52 in Hudson. A victim in the 7-Eleven parking lot said his truck was just stolen. The arrest report lists the offense time as 3:51 a.m.

The deputy drove down Key Lime Drive, turned left onto Oconee Boulevard and then saw the pickup’s lights on Lake Drive, according to the arresst report.

The deputy followed. Then, on Wonder Avenue, the pickup “ran into a lake,” the report said. Lucas ran from it toward Rose Haven Boulevard. A K-9 unit was called, and Lucas was arrested as he hid in the woods at Rose haven Boulevard and Moon Lake Road, north  of Moon Lake Estates.

Lucas is in the Pasco County Jail facing two counts of grand theft auto and one count of fleeing to elude.