Story Archive

Clouded Excuse

When a Martin County (Fla.) Sheriff’s deputy arrived to check a burglar alarm at a business at 4:20 a.m., he was suspicious enough about a pickup truck parked nearby that he called in its license. The business building was apparently secure, so the deputy went to check out the truck. Its driver, Gordon Raymond, 25, told the deputy he had a dead battery, and could the deputy give him a jump? No, the deputy said: the license check came back indicating the truck was stolen. Raymond first claimed he bought the truck on Craigslist, but later allegedly admitted stealing it from a church’s parking lot because while out drinking, his girlfriend left, giving him no ride home. “Mr. Raymond stated that at the time taking the truck seemed like his best option,” the deputy noted in his report, “and that he had no other way to get home.” Except that doesn’t explain why Raymond used the truck to drive to work the previous couple of days, too. Raymond was arrested for grand theft auto. (RC/Stuart News) ...One way or another, it’s no surprise “420” was involved.