A husband watched as a man from Tennessee drove away in his wife’s truck at the TA Travel Center in Wildwood.
The husband drove his wife’s 2002 gray Toyota Sequoia to the back side of the travel center and went to work in his office, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. He looked out his office window which faces the fueling area and saw the truck being driven away. He told deputies he left the keys in the vehicle and it was unlocked.
Another deputy later spotted the truck at a Chevron gas station at 101 Warm Springs Ave. in Coleman. He also spotted walking away from the truck a man, later identified as 42-year-old Edward Garland, of Johnson City, Tenn. Garland fled on foot, but was apprehended a short time later.
During a pat down, a pipe with the residue of marijuana was found in Garland’s pocket. A criminal history check revealed convictions for theft, robbery, vehicle burglary and resisting arrest.
He was arrested on charges of vehicle theft, resisting arrest and possession of drug equipment. He was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on $10,000 bond.