Deltona, FL - A "witness" who tried to point deputies in the direction of a burglary suspect is arrested after his DNA was matched to DNA left at the scene.
And according to Volusia County Sheriff's Office, 40-year-old Mark Grimes' never really added up anyway.
Back on December 30th, VCSO responded to a home off Merrimac Street in Deltona around 11:30 p.m. for a vehicle break-in. At the residence, they met the owner of a vehicle claimed to have been broken into.
He told deputies that he went outside to his 2018 Ford F150 to grab something when he noticed that the exterior cab light was on, meaning the door was open on the truck.
As he
According to the owner, the backpack contained an Xbox One, three games, one controller, a battery charger and a gaming headset. All items together cost around $885.
A box of Newport cigarettes was also stolen out of the truck.
The owner then jumped into his truck and drove off to catch the suspect. When he turned onto North Normandy Boulevard, he found his backpack with all of his items, but it had been run over by a vehicle.
Later on in the night, deputies found Grimes, who had a box of Newports and was near a bicycle that matched the description given to VCSO.
"He just went that way!"
— Volusia Co. Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) March 7, 2019
In December, Mark Grimes insisted he saw a car-break suspect getting away, and he was just trying to help us find him.
This week, we arrested Grimes for burglary and grand theft after his DNA matched DNA inside the "suspect's" sweatshirt. pic.twitter.com/rulramGIr7
Grimes told VCSO that the bike was not his but he saw the suspect riding on Whitewood Drive towards Deltona Boulevard. But, the bike was ditched on Springfield Street, before Whitewood.
Deputies say Grimes' story didn't add up and he continued to change it several times.
VCSO took the bicycle and a hooded sweatshirt left behind and submitted them to be tested along with finger prints lifted off of the owner's truck.
Then, this past Sunday (March 3rd), VCSO received DNA results regarding the burglary that strongly suggested that Grimes contributed to the DNA left on the vehicle and sweatshirt.
Two days later (March 5th), deputies arrested Grimes in relation to the incident. Grimes told deputies that he was at the property on the 30th, but did not go into the truck, someone else did.
He said an unknown friend road by him on a bicycle and yelled run. Grimes said he then took his sweatshirt off and got rid of his bike to conceal his identity.
Deputies told Grimes that the victim said only one person was seen leaving the the incident, not two.
Grimes was then charged with burglary and grand theft. He's currently in custody at Volusia County Jail on $10,000 bond.
