Local

“You got me red-handed”: Pizza-eating man accused of breaking into cars, leaving pizza trail behind

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County deputies said a pizza-eating man is accused of breaking into two cars in Deltona.

Deputies said Dewey Smith, 38, was arrested after they followed a trail of evidence, including red sauce on the door handle of one vehicle, and a pizza box and plates left behind near another one.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

When deputies found Smith walking down the street in another neighborhood, they said he was still carrying the victims’ credit cards and IDs.

The car break-ins were reported around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday on Jefferson Avenue.

Deputies said they found the car’s center console open and glove box rummaged through, and the victim’s wallet missing. There was also what appeared to be marinara sauce on the inside handle of the driver’s side door.

READ: Deputies: Florida toddlers drown in neighbor’s swimming pool after grandmother reports them missing

A few doors down the street, deputies noticed an empty pizza box at the scene where another car break occurred. Deputies said a 9mm handgun and an old concealed weapons permit was missing from that vehicle.

During their investigation, deputies said they spoke to a neighbor who reported that Smith had stopped by overnight asking if she knew anyone looking to purchase a gun.

Smith was also carrying a white grocery bag containing credit cards and gift cards, and wanted the neighbor to call a phone number to check the balance on a gift card, according to investigators.

READ: Police: Father beat 12-year-old, left him in laundry room to die

The woman refused but she said Smith did take some of the Little Caesar’s pizza she’d ordered earlier in the night.

The woman told deputies that she had thrown away the pizza and the box, and Smith took it out of the garbage.

Later, when deputies found Smith walking on Twin Oaks Street with the victims’ cards still in his possession, he told deputies, “You got me red-handed.”

READ: Police deny claims that DNA didn’t match Brian Laundrie’s remains

Smith was charged with armed burglary of a conveyance, burglary of a conveyance, four counts of fraudulent use of credit cards, grand theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, theft and dealing in stolen property.

He was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail where he remained in custody Thursday morning on $71,000 bail. Deputies said the stolen handgun was not immediately located.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.

0