Two Ocala residents were arrested early Sunday after Marion County deputies say they were caught leaving a Summerfield construction site with stolen lumber in their vehicle.
According to arrest affidavits from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 11:50 p.m. Saturday to reports of a theft in progress at an active construction site within the Summer Point development near SE 77th Court Road in Summerfield. The development was described in the report as a roughly 108-acre multifamily apartment project under construction.
Investigators said a remote surveillance company monitoring the site alerted deputies after an operator observed a red Ford SUV arrive at the property and two people begin loading lumber into the vehicle. The operator reportedly observed the vehicle leaving the area while dropping lumber onto the roadway.
Deputies later stopped the vehicle less than a quarter mile from the site and identified the occupants as Mario Herrera Mendoza, 48, and Lisbety Rodriguez Arias, 38, both of Ocala.
The reports state investigators found scattered lumber near the construction site, including multiple 2×4 boards and wood header beams. A general search by deputies estimated the value of the lumber at approximately $734.
According to the affidavits, Herrera Mendoza told deputies he was at the location looking for discarded wood in a dumpster and denied taking lumber. Rodriguez Arias reportedly told investigators she remained inside the vehicle and denied taking any lumber.
Investigators also noted the SUV’s back seats were folded down and that fresh wood chips were visible inside the vehicle, which deputies said was consistent with lumber being loaded into the SUV.
Both suspects were arrested and charged with trespass on a posted construction site and grand theft from a posted construction site.
