EUSTIS, Florida—A man with 11 felony convictions and a prior arrest for grand theft auto stole a running car out of the parking lot of a local restaurant May 27, according to Eustis Police Department.
Robert Eugene Marks Sr., 47, who is listed as homeless, went into Double Take Pizza, 403 North Grove Street, shortly before 9:30 p.m. demanding free food and claiming he had $847 million in the bank while he moved the restaurant’s tip jar closer to him, according to an arrest affidavit.
An employee took the tip jar and told Marks to leave. Witnesses told police Marks was outside asking for cigarettes and one witness saw Marks walk toward an Infiniti that was left running in the parking lot and then saw the Infiniti speed out of the parking lot.
When the owner of the car realized it was missing, he flagged down an EPD officer and a second officer was able to identify Marks from previous involvements, according to the affidavit.
About an hour later Marks was spotted by EPD and detained; he told the officer a man paid him $10 to retrieve the car, but could not give a description of the man, the affidavit states. Marks told the officer where to find the car and three sets of fingerprints were lifted from the vehicle and submitted into evidence. Marks’ backpack was searched, and a straw and container were found with methamphetamine residue; he was arrested for grand theft auto and possession of drug paraphernalia. Marks was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $3,000 bond.
