Staff report

ALACHUA, Fla. – Taliyah Renee Jones Blake, 19, and Devon Rantrell Darling, 19, both of Alachua, were arrested yesterday and charged with four felonies and four misdemeanors after allegedly stealing a purse and wallets from a vehicle and attempting to charge over $2,800 to a stolen credit card.

Sometime during the night on Monday, March 25, several items were taken from a vehicle in the Rock Meadow Farm neighborhood in Alachua. The items included a Gucci purse and two Gucci wallets valued at over $4,000, three credit/debit cards, identification cards for three people, and a key fob for the vehicle.

Bank statements reportedly showed that 32 attempts were made for over $2,800 in charges using one of the cards. Several attempts were reportedly made to transfer funds to two CashApp accounts, one of which reportedly belongs to Darling. The other account reportedly belongs to a person who has been involved romantically with Blake.

Several fraudulent charges were reportedly attempted at the Circle K at 15089 NW U.S. Hwy 441 in Alachua, and Alachua Police Department officers were able to obtain surveillance video from the store. The officers reported that Blake and Darling can be seen on camera with a credit card matching the description provided by the victim. Blake and Darling can reportedly be seen handing the card back and forth while trying to use it several times at the counter and at the ATM.

Post Miranda, Blake reportedly said she knew about the burglary but hadn’t been there; she said she believed Darling had committed the burglary. She was reportedly able to describe the stolen credit card and said Darling had tried to transfer money to her CashApp account and his CashApp account. She reportedly admitted that she tried to use the card several times at the Circle K.

Post Miranda, Darling reportedly declined to answer questions.

Blake and Darling have each been charged with burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, grand theft, fraudulent use of credit cards, obtaining property worth over $300 through the fraudulent use of credit cards, fraudulently possessing four or fewer identification cards, and three counts of theft of a credit/debit card.

Blake and Darling have no adult criminal history. Judge Gloria Walker set bail for each of them at $30,500.

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. 

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