MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – A beer theft at a local 7-Eleven led to a brief vehicle pursuit and multiple arrests on Saturday night, June 28, 2025.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Cpl. Michael Stringer was refueling his patrol vehicle around 9:45 p.m. at the 7-Eleven on SE Baseline Road when a store clerk alerted him that someone had stolen cases of beer, an incident reportedly captured on the store’s dash camera.
MCSO says that Stringer spotted the suspect vehicle leaving the parking lot and attempted a traffic stop. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Jaitai Williams, refused to stop and fled onto Southeast 92nd Loop. A short pursuit followed, ending when Stringer executed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle and detained Williams.
During the arrest, front-seat passenger Raymond Myrick, 48, was seen throwing items containing illegal drugs from the vehicle, according to MCSO. They say that field tests confirmed the substances included THC, cocaine, and fentanyl. He was arrested on drug possession charges.
The back-seat passenger, 19-year-old Steven Hogan, was identified as the individual who had taken the three cases of Modelo beer from the store. MCSO says that the stolen beer was recovered from his seat area.
All three suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Marion County Jail. Williams faces a charge of fleeing to elude law enforcement, Myrick is charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana, and Hogan is charged with retail petit theft.