SPRING HILL, FL. – On Monday at 8:38 p.m., Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Red Lobster, located at 2328 Commercial Way in Spring Hill, in reference to a patron who left the restaurant without paying his bill.
The manager reported the suspect, later identified as Jack Faria, 72, was observed by restaurant employees exiting the business without paying.
An employee was able to speak with Faria in the parking lot about the unpaid bill, which included two alcoholic beverages and some food. Faria followed the employee back inside the restaurant only to run back out into the parking lot, where he got into his vehicle and drove away.
Witnesses were able to provide a vehicle description, tag number, and a direction of travel of the suspect’s vehicle to 911 dispatchers.
A deputy en route to the scene saw the suspect’s vehicle traveling south on Commercial Way. The deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but Faria kept driving.
Faria proceeded right on to Tarpon Boulevard before making a left onto Osowaw Boulevard. Faria then struck an illuminated concrete sign as he attempted to turn into the frontage road leading to Walmart.
Faria proceeded to drive to the parking lot of Denny’s, located at 1445 Wendy Court. The deputy was able to corner Faria in the parking lot where the suspect collided with the deputy’s vehicle. The deputy took Faria into custody without further incident.
Faria was transported to the Hernando County Detention Center on charges of Defrauding an Innkeeper, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Driving Under the Influence.
It was also determined that Faria is a registered sexual offender. Faria is being held in lieu of a $4,000 with conditions of GPS monitoring upon release. Additionally, the U.S. Marshal Service has placed a hold on Faria for an active warrant out of North Carolina.
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