By Robbyn Mitchell, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, September 30, 2010
DOVER — When deputies tried to arrest two men accused of stealing Thursday afternoon, one of the men tried to make his getaway on a riding lawnmower.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant for the home of Michael Riddles, 48, of 1020 Jerry Smith Road and found a stolen black-and-yellow Suzuki ATV with the vehicle ID number removed in a shed behind the house, according to a release.
Deputies arrested Riddle and learned that a second suspect, Charles McDaniel, 25, of 2707 Trapnell Road in Plant City was riding down Trapnell on a lawnmower.
McDaniel tried to get away when deputies tried to stop him, the release said. Before he was arrested, he tossed a .380 caliber pistol — which turned out to be stolen — into a ditch along the side of the road, deputies added.
Riddles was charged with grand theft auto, two counts of grand theft, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a vehicle with an altered or removed vehicle identification number and criminal mischief.
Deputies said the investigation began when he tried to sell stolen property.
McDaniel was charged with grand theft firearm, felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed firearm.