www.tampabeacon.com, March 4, 2024
Two men have been arrested in connection with a Tampa Bay-wide auto theft ring, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
HCSO’s Auto Theft Task Force was conducting surveillance in the Lutz area on Feb. 21 when deputies saw a Dodge Challenger with a fraudulent temporary Texas tag. Detectives discovered the vehicle was the same one involved in the theft of a Dodge Charger earlier that morning in St. Petersburg.
Around 6:30 p.m., deputies attempted a traffic stop on the Challenger, which they said fled recklessly and at high speed. The suspects drove into Tampa and pulled into the Westshore Mall parking garage.
The driver and a passenger left the vehicle and ran into the mall. HCSO’s K-9 unit, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Tampa Police Department responded to the mall and located the two suspects.
The driver, Jonnathan Chau, 26, was arrested and charged with grand theft motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, fleeing to elude-high speed, selling or possessing a vehicle with altered numbers, reckless driving and possession of counterfeit license plates.
The passenger, Kourtney Siner, 19, was charged with grand theft motor vehicle, resisting an officer with violence, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, carrying a concealed firearm and burglary of an unoccupied conveyance.
HCSO’s Auto Theft Task Force is continuing to investigate what it called a known auto theft ring and believes additional charges will be forthcoming.