A 39-year-old man, Christopher Cody Talavera Sr., was taken into custody in connection with grand theft auto and drug offenses after Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies tracked down a stolen vehicle he was found in. On the fourth day of June this year, a silver 2023 Kia Soul was reported missing by a local rental car company. The theft was reported to have occurred near the crossing of Williams Road and Magnolia Lane.
Law enforcement officials were able to locate the same Kia Soul backed into a driveway on Ross Street, Tampa. The vehicle's identification matched that of the stolen car. In a subsequent search of the car, deputies discovered an assortment of controlled substances, including Oxycodone Hydrochloride, Alprazolam, cocaine, and THC. Sheriff Chad Chronister was quoted praising the deputies' work, saying, “This arrest demonstrates the power of proactive policing and strong investigative work,” on a social media post by the Sheriff's Office.
Talavera is now facing several charges that include Grand Theft Motor Vehicle, Trafficking in Illegal Drugs weighing in from 4 to 14 Grams, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (two counts), Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (three counts).
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office believes this arrest to not only recover stolen property but to also remove potentially dangerous drugs from circulation in the community. Sheriff Chronister further expressed his appreciation for his team, emphasizing that “Thanks to the swift action of our deputies, a stolen vehicle was recovered and dangerous drugs were taken off our streets.”
