A 58-year-old homeless man was arrested Tuesday after stealing a Jeep, parking it at Layton Fire station, stealing firefighter gear, battering a woman and defecating on the side of the road.
Thomas Radcliffe Cheek, formerly of Maryland, was charged with burglary, larceny, grand theft of a motor vehicle and battery.
The odd series of events began about 8:13 a.m. on Summerland Key when Lower Keys Deputy Christian Deen was called to the 24000 block of the Overseas Highway regarding a stolen black Jeep Grand Cherokee. The owner said the keys were left in the ignition and there was an outboard motor inside. The owner provided the registration information, which was placed into the Sheriff’s Office records. A be-on-the-lookout for the Jeep was issued.
Middle Keys Deputy Antonio Guieb was called to the Layton Fire Department at 1:50 p.m. whereupon a firefighter explained a black Jeep parked in the driveway, obstructing their tanker truck. The firefighter further explained he noticed his bunker coat (fire coat) was missing and found in the unlocked Jeep. Deputy Guieb ran the plates on the Jeep and they came back as stolen. Middle Keys Lt. Derek Paul viewed surveillance footage at the fire station, which showed the suspect, later identified as Cheek, walking toward the Jeep with what appeared to be the bunker coat.
Middle Keys Deputy Vincent Torres was en route to assist Deputy Guieb when he was called to Lime Key Bay Resort in Layton across the highway from the Fire Station regarding a suspicious person/battery. 911 Telecommunicators advised Deputy Torres the suspect pushed a female employee and defecated on the property near U.S. 1, before leaving on foot. Deputy saw a man matching the description — drunk white man wearing red shorts and a shirt with a marijuana leaf on it — walking on the side of U.S. 1. Deputy Torres saw the suspect throw a beer can on the ground. Deputy Torres stopped the suspect and he was identified as Cheek at that time. Cheek stated he was going to the Layton Fire Station to get water. Deputy Torres asked Cheek why he was causing problems at the Lime Key Bay Resort. Cheek said he was playing sandbags there, but the staff asked him to leave, so he did.
Resort employees came out and identified Cheek as the suspect while Deputy Torres was talking with him. Deputy Torres detained Cheek at that time. Deputy Torres found a black Chrysler key fob in Cheek’s pocket. Chrysler is the parent company of Jeep. Deputy Torres then spoke to the resort staff, who informed him guests stated a drunk man was playing with children on the beach and asking for money. A female resort employee told Deputy Torres that Cheek told her his car broke down. When asked if he staying at the resort, Cheek told the female employee, “That it was not her (deleted) problem.” The employee then asked him to leave the property. Cheek then pushed her before walking away cursing. Cheek apparently then defecated on the property near U.S. 1 before leaving.
After Deputy Torres detained Cheek, he called Guieb who was nearby. Deputy Torres clicked the lock and unlock tab of the key fob. Deputy Guieb confirmed the key fob appeared to be locking and unlocking the Jeep. Deputy Guieb retrieved the key and it started the Jeep.
Cheek was taken to jail.