Citrus County Deputies End String of Retail Thefts in Three Counties

CITRUS- Two men are behind bars after Citrus County Deputies ended their spree of serial retail thefts in Sumter, Marion, and Citrus counties.

Deputy Kyle Ferguson was dispatched to the Walmart, located at 6885 S. Suncoast Blvd. around 2 A.M Tuesday, after reports of a theft in progress. Upon arrival Ferguson noticed the suspect’s vehicle drive passed him, so he turned around and initiated a pursuit. That’s when suspects Calvin Wheeler, 25, and Chazzarra Lindsey, 29, took off at a high rate of speed on N. HWY 19.

Wheeler reached speeds over 100mph, while swerving in and out of lanes and nearly causing an accident. As they approached Ozello trail the chase was called off.

A Short time later, deputies on the east side of Homosassa found an abandoned blue equinox with the stolen property in the trunk. The vehicle appeared to recently have been in a crash and matched the tag number of Wheelers. It also appeared the two suspects had fled on foot.

K-9 was called to canvas the scene, where they soon located Wheeler and Lindsey hiding in a pump shed at 1850 Southwest Lake Drive. Both suspects were booked into the Citrus County Jail on charges of, fleeing to elude, trespassing, and leaving the scene of an accident

Upon further investigation it was revealed that Wheeler and Lindsey had been stealing from stores throughout Citrus and were also wanted in Sumter, and Marion county on similar charges.

Surveillance video showed Wheeler and Lindsey enter the Walmart, load their cart with Televisions and sound bars, and then exit the store without paying.

Wheeler is charged with driving on a revoked license, trespassing, leaving the scene of an accident, fleeing to elude, and Felony retail theft. Wheelers bond is set at $9500.00.

Lindsey is only charged with trespassing - his bond is set at $1000.00.

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