DeLand, FL – A 21-year-old Daytona Beach man is in custody after a carjacking near DeLand ends with his arrest around 20 miles away in Daytona Beach.
Darrion Tompert was arrested around 7:30am Saturday in the 400 block of Pleasant Street, nearly an hour after a Ford Fusion was stolen from a gas station on East International Speedway Boulevard.
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Gary Davidson says it all started around 6:40am at a Kangaroo Express near DeLand.
“The victim had stepped away from his vehicle at the time when he saw the male suspect get in it,” Davidson noted. “The victim ran back to his vehicle and physically engaged the suspect inside the vehicle in an attempt to regain control of his car. The suspect was able to force the victim out of the car, put it in gear and take off.”
The victim – a 38-year-old Daytona Beach man – suffered minor scrapes and scratches after he was dragged through the parking lot while trying to get the carjacker out of the car, per Davidson.
“It occurred as the suspect rapidly accelerated in reverse during the struggle in the parking lot,” Davidson stated. “The victim was dragged for approximately 30 feet and sustained minor scrapes to his right shoulder, arms and right hip. [He] declined medical treatment.”
A VCSO deputy found the stolen car heading east on ISB towards Daytona Beach around 5 minutes later, leading to another deputy using stop sticks to slow the vehicle down near the Tomoka Farms Road intersection, according to Davidson.
“The vehicle continued fleeing for a few minutes longer before it ran through a front yard at about 6:53am and then came to a rest up against the front of a house at 626 May Street in Daytona Beach, causing no damage to the house,” Davidson stated.
Tompert took off on foot but was caught around a half-hour later by a VCSO K-9 unit, per Davidson.
“After his capture, a live round of ammunition not belonging to the victim was found in the vehicle and the victim’s wallet was found in the defendant’s pants pocket,” Davidson said. “The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate as it’s believed that one or more suspects in another car dropped off the accomplice who committed the carjacking.”
Tompert is charged with carjacking, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, aggravated battery and driving without a valid driver’s license.
Tompert is held without bond at Volusia County Jail. His mugshot hasn’t been made available as of 3pm Saturday.
VCJ records show Tompert – a convicted felon – been booked there 5 other times since October 2011, including most recently in October 2013 on numerous charges, including grand theft auto, carrying a concealed firearm, fleeing & eluding and reckless driving.
The photo of the actual vehicle above this article is courtesy of VCSO.
Darrion Tompert (2013 mugshot courtesy VCJ)
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