GPD officer recovers rental car stolen from Colorado

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Justin Dominique Sneed, 36, of St. Petersburg, was arrested last night and charged with grand theft of an automobile after a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer noticed the stolen car at a gas station.

At about 9:17 p.m. on September 28, a GPD officer saw a car that had been reported stolen by Enterprise in Aurora, Colorado; the car pulled into a parking space near the officer’s vehicle at the Circle K at 3901 SW Archer Road, and the officer noted that Sneed was the driver and only occupant of the car.

Sneed reportedly rented the car on July 3 and was supposed to return it after a week, but he allegedly never returned the car; the rental company continued to charge Sneed’s credit card and was reportedly in communication with Sneed until the card was declined on August 25. The rental company reported that no further communication was received in spite of a demand letter they sent to Sneed on September 4.

Sneed reportedly said it was his rental car, but post Miranda, he declined to answer any further questions.

Sneed has three felony convictions and two misdemeanor convictions out of Pinellas County, all for drugs. Judge Sheree Lancaster set bail at $75,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.