A 44-year-old Ocala man arrested on Interstate 75 in a stolen pickup truck said he picked up the vehicle from a local gas station to visit his daughter in Fort Myers.

On Friday, Aug. 9, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal was called to Diamond Oil at 2780 SE 58th Avenue in Ocala for a report of a car theft. Upon arrival, the corporal made contact with a male victim who reported that his Ford F-150 work truck had been stolen from the gas station’s parking lot, the police report states.

The sergeant noted in the report that when the victim parked the truck, he left the keys in the ignition and entered the store. The victim stated that he was in the store for approximately two minutes and when he returned to the parking lot, he found the vehicle was gone.

Employees at the convenience store reported to the corporal that a man, later identified as Jamey Bryan Hendrixson, was “pacing” and “creating a quiet” at the gas station prior to the vehicle theft. According to the report, video surveillance footage showed Hendrixson pacing outside the gas station while the victim’s pickup truck pulled into a parking lot.

Shortly after the victim was seen on video entering the convenience store, Hendrixson allegedly approached the pickup truck and entered the vehicle on the driver’s side. Seconds later, the vehicle left the parking lot, according to the report.

The stolen pickup truck was estimated to be worth about $25,000. The corporal noted that the vehicle was equipped with a tracking system and was traveling south on I-75.

MCSO officers responded to I-75 and the pickup truck was soon spotted on the interstate. A traffic stop was initiated and the vehicle eventually came to a stop near exit 341. The report stated that the vehicle had two occupants: Hendrixson (driver) and an unidentified female passenger.

The passenger told officers that Hendrixson picked her up in the vehicle. She further stated that Hendrixson mentioned that he “borrowed the vehicle from a friend,” according to the report.

After being read his Miranda rights, Hendrixson allegedly stated that he “took” the pickup truck because he was going to visit his daughter in Fort Myers. The report said he was wearing the same clothing seen on the gas station’s video surveillance footage.

During the post-Miranda interview, Hendrixson mentioned that he was unsure if his driver’s license was valid. A computer search revealed that his license was suspended indefinitely in 2018, the report said.

Hendrixson was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on $7,000 bail. He is charged with grand theft auto, unarmed burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, and driving without a license (third or subsequent offense).

On Tuesday, September 10, Hendrixson is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m., according to jail records.