A Gainesville man who allegedly stole a car and threatened his friend was arrested Sunday afternoon.
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office charged Blake Summerlin, 28, of 4323 NW 21st Place, with grand theft auto, a third-degree felony, according to an ASO arrest report.
At about 2:40 p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to a report about a stolen car at the Scottish Inn Hotel, located in the 4000 block of Southwest 13th Street.
When deputies arrived at the scene, the victim told police that Summerlin had driven his 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer the night before when they were out at a bar.
The next day, Summerlin picked up the victim and drove back to the hotel.
When they arrived, the two men started arguing.
The victim told Summerlin to give him the keys, but Summerlin refused, saying “I’m taking your truck and when I get back I’m going to kill you,” according to the report.
Summerlin then took the car and fled the scene.
After interviewing the victim, deputies later contacted OnStar and found the car in the Arredondo Farms mobile home park, located in the 7000 block of Southwest Archer Road.
At the park, police confronted Summerlin and arrested him.
During questioning, Summerlin told deputies he stole the car so he could go to a woman’s house.
Summerlin later changed his story, saying he borrowed the car with the victim’s permission.
He said he wasn’t aware the car was reported stolen, according to the report.
This is not Summerlin’s first run-in with police.
In 2007, he was arrested on robbery charges, according to court records from the Alachua County Clerk of Court.
Police booked Summerlin into the Alachua County Jail. By Monday night, he was released.
Contact Chris Alcantara at calcantara@alligator.org.
