Holmes Beach police arrested Spring Hill resident Christopher Merritt, 39, Aug. 12 on a third-degree felony for grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Merritt also was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for driving on a suspended license.
An officer located a vehicle pinged by the Holmes Beach Police Department’s license plate recognition system as stolen out of Hernando County.
The officer waited for backup, then conducted a traffic stop in the 5300 block of Gulf Drive.
The officer drew his gun and issued commands to the driver, identified as Merritt, who complied.
Merritt said the vehicle was his mother’s but he frequently drives the car.
The officer contacted a Hernando County sheriff’s deputy, who said Merritt had taken the car keys by force and a warrant was being written for his arrest.
The officer arrested Merritt and transported him to the HBPD for processing. There he found Merritt’s driver’s license had been suspended.
Merritt’s vehicle was towed and HBPD transported Merritt to the Manatee County jail, where he remained in custody as of Aug. 19 with a $1,120 bond.
If convicted, punishment for a third-degree felony charge includes up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a $5,000 fine.
Punishment for a second-degree misdemeanor includes up to 60 days in jail, six months of probation and a $500 fine.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.