Woman arrested for stealing truck from Good Samaritan

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Melinda Marie Waters, 42, was arrested yesterday after allegedly stealing a truck from a man who stopped on the side of the road to help her.

At about 3:30 p.m. on November 24, Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 13100 block of NW County Road 231, where the victim said he had been driving southbound on CR 231 when he saw a woman lying in the ditch on the side of the road. He and other drivers pulled over to see if she needed help, and when the victim walked over to another driver to ask if they could call 911, Waters allegedly got into his truck and drove away.

A BOLO (be on the lookout) was issued, and a deputy saw the truck traveling northbound on NW 34th Boulevard, just south of U.S. Hwy 441. The deputy followed the truck until backup units arrived, and the truck was pulled over near the 7400 block of NW 13th Street at about 4:30 p.m.

Post Miranda, Waters reportedly said the truck’s owner had given her a ride after he saw her running down the road, and after they pulled into a gas station (she reportedly could not describe the location of the gas station), the truck’s owner got out, leaving the key in the truck, and said, “You can go.”

Waters has been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle. She has no criminal history and told court officials that she has been in the area for about two weeks. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $15,000 but ordered that bail could be waived if she is accepted into Mental Health Court.

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.