Sarasota Man Charged For Stealing Boss' Mercedes

A Sarasota man who has found himself in court frequently for criminal charges was arrested Tuesday on grand theft, drug and fleeing to elude police charges.

Frank Felix, 35, had showed up to his boss' home on Nov. 30 to buy his 2000 silver Mercedes CLK 320 and was allowed to take it for a test drive and return it to the home to complete the sale, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Several hours passed and the man didn't hear back from Felix, and Felix didn't report to work the next day. 

On Tuesday, sheriff's deputies spotted Felix, of 3847 Nottingham Drive, driving the car near 35th Street and North Orange Avenue and attempted to pull the car over, but Felix decided to lead the deputy on a pursuit from Goodrich Avenue to 32nd Street, over to southbound U.S. 301, running red lights, and striking a speed bump on 29th Street that caused the car to launch into the air and crashed down onto the pavement, causing damage to the right side of the car, according to the affidavit.

Felix bailed out of the car near 31st Street and Leon Avenue, fled on foot, and was struck by a Taser deployed by a deputy, but continued to get up and run into a wooded area, prompting authorities to establish a perimeter that also included K9 and the Air 1 helicopter, according to the affidavit.

A Sarasota Police Department officer took Felix into custody following the search, according to the affidavit.

While searching the Mercedes, law enforcement found a large jewelry box reported stolen in a Manatee County burglary along with a crow bar, according to the affidavit.  He is also suspected in other burglaries in the Sarasota and Manatee county area, according to the sheriff's office.

Felix faces the following charges:

• Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, 
• Aggravated Fleeing to Elude,
• Resisting Arrest without Violence, 
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 
• Possession of Burglary Tools and 
• two counts of Violation of Probation.

Felix has a long list of charges over the past two years including dealing stolen property, fraud, drug possession, burglary and driving on a suspended license.

Felix is being held without bond for violating probation, and bond was set for $16,510 on the remaining charges, according to the sheriff's office. The investigation is continuing.