JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man is in custody after he was accused of stealing a pickup truck and crashing it through a fence at Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) on Sunday morning, according to a police report.
A Jacksonville Aviation Authority Police Department officer said they were called to the Avis Rental Car Return Area of the Daily Garage at JIA about a suspicious person in the parking lot.
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A witness who works for a security contractor told police that he saw a white truck crash through a fence at a vehicle maintenance warehouse at the airport.
After the crash, the witness said he saw the suspect exit the truck and run into the vehicle storage area.
Officers arrived at the scene and found the suspect in another truck attempting to start it.
Police said they ordered him to exit the vehicle at gunpoint and the man threw his hands up and began screaming.
While removing him from the truck to take him into custody, officers said a baggie with white powder fell out of his shorts.
The arrest report said the man was “profusely” sweating, had cuts on his arms, and made several statements about taking drugs and having “salts” on him.
Police called Jacksonville Fire and Rescue to the scene.
After being read his Miranda rights, the suspect told police he had been out all night with his girlfriend and at around 4 a.m., he took what he believed was powdered cocaine.
The suspect said he didn’t know why he was at the airport, but also said he first went to the car return area and spoke to an employee before running to the warehouse.
The man said he jumped the fence and tried to steal several cars.
He said he was able to steal the white pickup truck but couldn’t control it and crashed into the fence.
The suspect said he was trying to steal another vehicle before officers took him into custody.
The man told officers, “I used cocaine when I was in the military, but whatever I took tonight was not cocaine.”
The officers conducted a field test of the powder found on the suspect and it tested positive for cocaine.
Officials said while being transported to a nearby hospital by JFRD, the suspect said he would “probably fly a plane away” if he were able to get to the runway.
Officials pulled surveillance footage of the incident.
JAA said the man caused an estimated $40,000 in damages.