Titusville Police have arrested a local man who stole a vehicle from a local mother.
The preliminary investigation revealed at approximately 7:30 AM, the victim was attempting to load her young children into vehicle in her driveway near the 1400 block of Barna Ave in anticipation for the first day of school, when an unidentified man dropped his bicycle, jumped into her 2013 white Kia Soul without permission and speed away.
Officers responded to the mother’s urgent call to 911 for help.
Within minutes, officers identified the stolen vehicle near the intersection of Cheney Highway and Barna Avenue.
A traffic stopped was initiated by police. The suspect did not comply and fled driving at high speeds and recklessly, ultimately crashing the stolen vehicle and fleeing the scene on foot.
A perimeter was established and the suspect was taken into custody by law enforcement in a wooded area near the 3500 block of Cheney Highway at approximately 8:30 AM.
Santiago Junior Pena, 43, of Daytona Beach was charged with, Grand Theft, Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Damage, Driving with a Suspended License with Knowledge, Reckless Driving and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
“This crime against a mother and her children will not be tolerated in our city”, said Criminal Investigations Sergeant Timothy Werring. “Our vigilant officers worked skillfully and urgently to take this criminal into custody”, added Werring.