INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A man with a suspended license allegedly stole a car from the Capt. Hiram’s parking lot, gave people a ride to the Dollar General, then crashed the vehicle and fled the scene.
Paul Nilsen, 21, of Micco faces charges of felony grand theft auto, reckless driving, misdemeanor fail to leave info after a crash misdemeanor violation of probation, operating with a suspended licences, and a misdemeanor resisting arrest without violence, according to his booking report.
Around 8 p.m. Tuesday, deputies were dispatched to Capt. Hiram’s concerning a stolen vehicle, according to the affidavit. They tracked down the vehicle at Roseland Plaza at Roseland Road and U.S. 1, where it had crashed into another parked vehicle. Before the crash, Nilsen was seen burning the tires out and almost colliding with other parked vehicles and speeding in the parking lot at a minimum of 50 mph.
Two people who were picked up by Nilsen were told that he stole the vehicle and said after he took off he began driving erratically, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. When the deputy attempted to stop the vehicle they jumped out. Nilsen also jumped out but left the car in gear. It ended up hitting a parked truck in the parking lot of Woody’s BBQ.
When Nilsen crashed the truck he fled toward Walgreens on foot, according to authorities. He was located north of the Indian River County line.
The stolen vehicle’s owner said he did not give anyone permission to use the vehicle and was unsure who took the 2007 Toyota Tundra.
Nilsen is being held at the Indian River County Jail without bond.
