Green Cove Springs man arrested for stealing gun and tools from plumbing van

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Delquan Lamar Baker, 18, was arrested yesterday after allegedly burglarizing a plumbing van twice, taking a gun, lottery tickets, and a tool bag.

At about 10:12 a.m. on December 27, security cameras in the 1100 block of NE 8th Avenue reportedly showed a man walking away from a plumbing van, carrying a black backpack. The victim told the responding Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer that the backpack contained a pistol valued at $900, other items valued at about $150, and some lottery tickets and scratch-offs.

At about 10:20 a.m., surveillance cameras at the Sunny Food Mart (1136 NE 8th Avenue) reportedly showed the same man with a pistol hanging out of his pants pocket; he scanned a series of lottery tickets and scratched the scratch-off tickets, but none of them were winning tickets, and he left the store at about 10:25 a.m.

At 10:26 a.m., security cameras reportedly showed the same man returning to the plumbing van and leaving with a tool bag valued at about $500.

On January 3, a GPD detective was collecting the video from the Sunny Food Mart, and as he left the store, he saw Baker walking on NE 9th Avenue. The detective noted that Baker looked like the person in the video and had the same cross tattoo. Baker reportedly told the detective he had been staying nearby with his girlfriend.

Baker was transported to the police station while the detective went to Baker’s girlfriend’s house; the detective reported that Baker’s girlfriend was wearing a “Snoop Dogg” hoodie that matched the one the suspect wore in the Sunny Food Mart.

Post Miranda, Baker reportedly admitted stealing the items from the plumbing van; he said the firearm is now in Lake City and he “ditched” the remaining items in trash cans and in the woods.

The officer reported that he would try to recover the property, based on information provided by Baker.

Baker has been charged with armed burglary of a vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, and two counts of petit theft. His listed address is in Green Cove Springs; his criminal history is unavailable, but he just turned 18 in November. Judge Sean Brewer set bail at $102,000.

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.