The Stafford Sheriff’s Office says a Stafford man’s true identity was revealed after his arrest for possession of stolen property ton Sunday.
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Just after noon, . Deputy S.M. Eastman responded to a disabled vehicle in the 300 block of Shelton Shop Road. He arrived to find an unoccupied Hyundai Elantra partially blocking a lane of travel. As Deputy Eastman prepared to tow the vehicle, a man approached on foot carrying a gas can. The man explained he was the owner of the vehicle and had run out of gas.
As the man refilled the tank, Deputy Eastman noticed the ignition had been punched out. While the license plates did not return through DMV, a quick check of the VIN revealed the vehicle was stolen from Spotsylvania.
The driver was subsequently detained and eventually identified as 31-year-old Latee Mize of Stafford. Mize was found to be wanted on two outstanding Capias warrants in Fredericksburg. He was additionally charged with identity fraud to avoid arrest, receiving stolen property and false identification. He was held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office was contacted to alert the true owner of the status of the vehicle.
