A Florida man returned to the very same residence less than an hour after deputies had removed him from the property. The suspect was caught on drone footage allegedly slashing the tire of a parked car.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office drone team located Keilos Ferdinand, 26, on Sept. 12 after he returned to the residence from which he had just been trespassed. The sheriff’s office drone team allegedly saw Ferdinand use a pocketknife to slash the tire of a victim’s vehicle.
The drone team then guided deputies on the ground directly to 1250 Skipper Road, where Ferdinand was arrested without incident.
The footage was posted to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page and shows Ferdinand approaching the parked car and allegedly slashing the tire. The video then cuts to two deputies arresting Ferdinand.
He Came Back Anyway
The sheriff’s office post states that Ferdinand had already been trespassed from the residence before the drone team spotted him there again.
Ferdinand came back anyway, and it’s unclear why he allegedly slashed the car’s tire. Drone footage captured the alleged act and allowed deputies to track him down almost immediately.
Ferdinand was arrested and charged with trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance and criminal mischief of $200 or less. Booking records show his bond was set at $650.
Tire Bill Gets People Talking
The $200 criminal mischief charge caught the attention of people in the comments section.
“Criminal Mischief $200 or Less?! Ummm… What?! Have you seen the price of tires lately?” one commenter wrote.
Another commenter focused on what could have happened if the drone footage had not caught Ferdinand in the act. The commenter said the drone “might have saved his life,” pointing out that someone could potentially react violently after discovering their tire had been slashed.
Someone else wondered what would happen to Ferdinand and suggested that he should be required to pay for the damaged tire and receive probation.
The Charges
Because Ferdinand allegedly returned to the property after being trespassed, the trespass charge is a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida law, based on the circumstances described by the sheriff’s office. A first-degree misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The criminal mischief charge is listed as $200 or less, making it a second-degree misdemeanor under Florida law. A second-degree misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Florida law also allows a court to order the convicted to pay for property damage.
The available information does not state the exact cost of replacing the tire or whether prosecutors will seek additional charges based on the damage. Ferdinand is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.