A 48-year-old Miami woman was arrested Sunday in Lakeland after deputies said a stolen phone’s tracking alert led them to a fleeing PT Cruiser, ending in a brief high-speed pursuit. Authorities say the same woman is also accused of setting a small fire inside a Dollar General restroom earlier that morning, and she was taken to the county processing center. She now faces multiple charges, including first-degree felony arson and several theft-related counts.
Tracking app trail ends with PT Cruiser stop
According to the Tampa Free Press, the case started around 8 a.m. when a man who had stopped at a Circle K on U.S. 98 realized his cell phone was missing and used a tracking feature to follow the signal. The app pointed him to a nearby business and showed the device inside an unoccupied black PT Cruiser. The man then watched as a woman walked up, got into the car and drove away.
Witnesses told investigators the driver weaved through traffic as she tried to get away before Polk County deputies intercepted the PT Cruiser and stopped it. Deputies recovered the missing phone and returned it to its owner.
Dollar General restroom fire ties into retail crime trend
Investigators say Lakeland police later filed additional charges after discovering that a small fire had been started in a Dollar General restroom earlier that same day, adding to a run of retail-targeted incidents in the area. The Polk County Sheriffs Office has previously posted Dollar General theft and burglary cases on its Crime Stoppers pages, highlighting how often deputies are called to discount retailers.
Local store staff and shoppers say these kinds of calls can shift quickly from routine theft reports to more serious investigations when property damage or fire comes into play.
Arrest and charges
Police identified the PT Cruiser driver as 48-year-old Erica Latrice Oliver of Miami. When officers took her into custody, she allegedly told them, “The phone is on the seat,” according to the Tampa Free Press.
The Lakeland Police Department has charged Oliver with first-degree felony arson along with several related offenses, including felony petit theft, burglary of a conveyance, fleeing to elude and reckless driving. She was transported to the Polk County Sheriffs Processing Center pending booking and further investigation.
What first-degree arson means in Florida
Under Florida law, first-degree arson involves willfully burning a dwelling or a structure where people are normally present, and it is classified as a felony of the first degree. The state’s arson statute and related sentencing rules spell out the specific elements of the crime and the range of penalties. See the Florida Legislature for the legal definition and potential penalties.
As of publication, neither the Lakeland Police Department nor the Polk County Sheriffs Office had posted a detailed incident release about the arrest on their public news pages. The investigation remains active and charges are pending, and officials may release additional information as detectives finish reviewing the scene and evidence.
