POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A 25-year-old Temple Terrace man, Elliott Paul Eugene Geer, found himself on the wrong side of the law after a retail theft incident at a Lakeland Marathon gas station, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Geer, who reportedly had no prior criminal history, now faces charges after a bizarre series of events on Saturday morning.
Deputies responded to a call at the Marathon station located at 111 Marcum Road at approximately 6:13 a.m. The report indicated a suspect had fled the scene on foot after stealing merchandise.
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A deputy located a man matching the suspect’s description near Lake Gibson High School. When questioned about his presence at the Marathon store, the man, later identified as Geer, invoked his Fifth Amendment right, stating, “I plead the fifth, it’s my right.”
However, the store owner positively identified Geer as the individual who stole the merchandise, which was subsequently recovered and returned to the business.
Following his identification, Geer reportedly changed his stance on remaining silent. He attributed the theft to his “ADHD kicking in.”
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In an unexpected twist, Geer also declared his intention to sue the Marathon gas station for a staggering $50 million, despite the evidence against him.
“Well, the owner of the store has a right not to have someone stealing merchandise from his business, but we see how that went,” stated a Polk County Sheriff’s Office representative.
Elliott Geer was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail, where he was charged with retail theft.
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