On 6-18-16 at 3:18 p.m., deputies responded to a residence in the 5000 block of Olivet Drive, Dade City, in reference to the theft of an all-terrain vehicle.
When deputies arrived, the ATV owner, Benjamin Leasure, reported a dark green Kawasaki ATV, welder, battery charger and toolbox were recently stolen from inside his pole barn. He indicated the suspect cut the lock on his gate to gain entrance to the property.
While on scene, deputies were notified by Leasure’s neighbors that a white male, later identified as Justin Yager W/M DOB/4-25-89, was recently seen dismounting an ATV on Strickland Trail. The witnesses advised the man then began suspiciously walking in-between houses in the area.
One of the witnesses identified the man in question as Yager.
Two HCSO K-9 units were called in to assist in the search for Yager.
A few hours later one of the K-9 units located Yager walking near the intersection of Cortez Boulevard and Westlake Drive.
Yager was detained until the witnesses arrived on scene to positively identify the suspect. The neighbors and victim were grateful for the quick response and Yager’s eventual capture.
Yager was arrested on charges of Burglary and Grand Theft Auto.
Through the course of the investigation, it was also discovered that on 6-3-16, Yager illegally entered three vehicles belonging to Benjamin Hedgepath and Alexandrea Lombardo.
Yager removed all three car stereos, in addition to a vehicle registration card and knives belonging to Hedgepath.
Yager then proceeded to sell one of the car stereos to an acquaintance. However, the buyer noticed the car registration belonging to Hedgepath in the bag with the car stereo and called him to return the radio.
Yager was additionally charged with three counts of Burglary and one count of Dealing in Stolen Property.
His bond was set at $7,000.