Man smashes stolen FKAA work truck through gate

A 36-year-old man — formerly of Hollywood, Florida — stole a Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority work truck Monday night and drove it through a locked gate before he was stopped on U.S. 1.

Larry Eugene Williams was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, property damage and driving without a valid license.

Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Specialists issued a be-on-the-lookout about 10:40 p.m. for a FKAA work truck reported stolen from the FKAA property at 5101 College Road. The work truck was possibly driving northbound on U.S. 1.

Deputy Anthony Lopez spotted the truck on U.S. 1 heading northbound and stopped it without incident at Mile Marker 21. The driver, later identified as Williams, “I stole the car,” when ordered by Deputy Lopez to get out of the truck.

Williams told Deputy Lopez he was staying at KOTS (Keys Overnight Temporary Shelter) before the incident occurred. Williams stated he began to worry that people were following him, so he left KOTs on his bicycle and went to the nearby FKAA property whereupon he jumped the fence and entered the work truck. The truck was unlocked and the keys were in the ignition. Williams stated he started the truck and smashed through the closed/locked security gate. Williams stated he continued to drive from College Road to U.S. 1 because he believed people were following him.

Deputy Jonathan Lane arrived shortly thereafter to the traffic stop. Williams told Deputy Lane that people were following him and he doesn’t know why. While on the side of the road, a vehicle passed them and Williams told Deputy Lane, “Did you see that?” Williams told Deputy Lane a person in the passing vehicle was one of the people following him. Williams also stated he snorted crystal meth about five days ago.

Deputy Lopez noticed the work truck had significant front end damage. Meanwhile, Key West Police on the scene at the FKAA property confirmed the security gate had been significantly damaged.

Williams was taken to jail.