FELLSMERE — A Sebastian man was arrested, accused of stealing his girlfriend’s van Tuesday after authorities say he ran a stop sign in Fellsmere, according to the arrest report.
A Fellsmere Police officer patrolling the area of N. Willow Street saw a white van run the stop sign at Vernon Street and initiated a traffic stop of the driver, identified as David Wayne Smith, 46, of Toledo Street, Sebastian.
While conducting the stop, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office notified the officer the van was reported stolen out of Sebastian, according to the arrest report. The Sebastian Police Department confirmed the vehicle was stolen and that Smith had been identified as the suspect.
Smith told the officer that he and his girlfriend, the van’s owner, got into a fight four or five days prior and that he left with her van but that he was in contact with her daily. He said his girlfriend asked him to come home multiple times but did not ask him to return the vehicle, according to the report.
The girlfriend was notified and arrived on scene, telling the officer that she had told Smith she would report the van stolen if he didn’t return the van. When the officer told the woman Smith said she let him borrow the van, the woman said she did not give Smith permission to take the vehicle.
Smith had a passenger in the vehicle, identified as Kristina Tetaz, who was also arrested on scene for an Indian River County warrant issued for driving with a suspended license, according to the arrest report.
Smith faces a felony grand theft charge and is being held at the county jail in lieu of $2,500 bond.
