Witness spotted a couple spray painting a pink Pete bright red in hotel lot. Then Florida cops arrested them for auto theft.

Two people were arrested in Florida this week on multiple charges connected to the theft of a semi truck.

Tampa residents Reinier Lazaro Perez and Dayanly Cutino Gonzalez were arrested this week on charges of Resisting Arrest Without Violence, Grand Theft – Motor Vehicle, and Felony Criminal Mischief, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO).

Perez was also charged with Possession of a Removed Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and Possession of Fentanyl.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Monday, January 30, in Palm Coast, Florida.

FCSO says that a concerned citizen called after spotting the couple spray painting a Peterbilt semi truck in the back of a Days Inn hotel parking lot.

When officers arrived on scene, the couple fled on foot into a wooded area, heading south along I-95.

Officers pursued on foot and caught Gonzalez following a short pursuit. Perez was apprehended about two hours later hiding in a wooded area.

From FCSO:

“Through investigative means, it was determined the Peterbilt semi-tractor had been stolen just hours earlier from Columbia County, Florida. The recovered semi-tractor is valued at $280,000. The semi-tractor’s original color is pink, and the subjects were in the process of spray painting the stolen semi-tractor to conceal its original color when deputies arrived. The semi-tractor’s GPS had been disabled and removed but was found nearby in the woods.“

“Thanks to another concerned citizen calling after ‘See Something, Say Something’ our deputies were able to catch two thieves and recover a stolen semi and return it to its rightful owner,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “They also get selected as the dumb criminals of the week award for thinking they could spray paint a semi in a hotel parking lot and not be noticed! Remember, if you are a criminal don’t come to Flagler County driving stolen property and running from us as you will only go to the Green Roof Inn tired!”