Ponte Vedra Beach Man Arrested for Stealing Jacksonville Beach Police K-9 Truck

A 63-year-old man from Ponte Vedra Beach was arrested on Friday after allegedly stealing a marked Jacksonville Beach Police Department K-9 patrol truck from a secured lot. The incident occurred around 8:06 p.m. when surveillance footage showed the suspect entering the lot through an open gate and driving off in the truck, which contained the police dog and department-issued firearms.

Police located the stolen vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at approximately 8:32 p.m. near 9th Street South, taking the man into custody without incident. Dashcam video from the stop shows an officer approaching the vehicle with their weapon drawn.

The K-9, named Furyk, a Belgian Malinois valued at about $15,000, was recovered along with the patrol truck, which is estimated to be worth around $40,000. Officers noted signs of possible impairment in the suspect, and family members had expressed concerns about his declining mental condition.

The man has been booked into the Duval County jail on multiple charges, including burglary of a conveyance while armed, theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft, and trespassing on posted law-enforcement property.