Boat Theft, Arson Leads to Two Arrests
On 4/13/16, Edward Eastridge reported the theft of his 28-foot Baja fishing boat and trailer from a residence located on Island Drive in Weeki Wachee.
Witnesses reported seeing a suspicious black Ford F150 extended cab being driven through the neighborhood earlier that morning.
A short time later the same vehicle was seen with an empty boat trailer traveling along Cortez Boulevard, near the area of Filson Street.
That same vehicle was located a short time later parked at 8131 Filson St. in Weeki Wachee.
Witnesses living on Filson Street confirmed that a boat matching the description of the victim’s stolen vessel was recently seen on the property where Dominic Shores, W/M DOB/5-28-88 and Travis Flaugher, W/M DOB/3-31-1980 were located.
During questioning, both suspects admitted to stealing the boat from the Eastridge residence at the request of Joey Davis, W/M DOB 8-25-1974.
Shores and Flaugher told detectives that Davis not only paid them to steal the boat, but he provided his truck so they could commit the crime.
The suspects said they brought the boat back to the Filson Street address where they stripped the wiring and then cut the two twin Mercury Optimax 225 HP motors from the boat.
When they were done, the suspects said they took the boat to Bayport Park where they lit it on fire using a flare and then pushed it into the water.
Shores and Flaugher were arrested on charges of Grand Theft, Dealing on Stolen Property and Arson.
Investigators have been unable to located Davis who is wanted on charges of Grand Theft and Dealing in Stolen Property.
