Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities apprehended 18-year-old Cameron William Ansel yesterday on charges of car theft and subsequent damage after allegedly colliding with a deer.
The vehicle’s owner informed the Gainesville Police Department that she mistakenly left her keys inside her car upon parking it in Bridgelight. A witness reportedly saw Ansel operating the vehicle in the vicinity and pursued him into Phoenix, where she observed Ansel and another individual exit the car and enter an apartment.
After being read his Miranda rights, Ansel initially refuted claims of driving the car. However, he eventually confessed to approaching the vehicle, discovering it was unlocked, entering, finding the keys inside, and driving away.
The second individual who exited the car claimed ignorance of the vehicle being stolen.
The officer reported that the vehicle had front-end damage, and Ansel reportedly said the damage occurred when he hit a deer while driving to the city of Alachua.
The officer reported that Ansel has an active warrant out of Alachua County for burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, but that case is not yet on the court website, and he has not been booked on that charge.
Ansel has been charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and felony property damage. Judge Gloria Walker set bail at $15,000.
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.