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Spyder Taken From Brandon Dealership Found At Busch

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 14, 2008

  Billy Eugene Milam

TAMPA - Police recovered a stolen Mitsubishi convertible after the accused thief drove it to Busch Gardens, a report states.

Billy Eugene Milam, 28, of Lakeland, was being held at Orient Road Jail today. His bail was set at $4,500. He is charged with felony grand theft of a motor vehicle, felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor possession of cocaine paraphernalia.

Tampa police said Milam stole a 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible from a Brandon dealership on Adamo Drive on July 8. Milam walked into the unoccupied sales office, snatched the keys and a dealer tag, and drove the vehicle out of the parking lot, police said.

A 2009 model of the Eclipse Spyder has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of $25,799, according to the Mitsubishi Web site.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office investigated the theft and learned that Milam and the car were at Busch Gardens on Saturday. They contacted Tampa police, who scoured the parking lot about 2:40 p.m. that day and found Milam driving the car around with two other people. Police stopped Milam and recovered the car.

Police said Milam picked up his passengers in Indiana and had brought them to the amusement park. The other people were not aware of the theft, police said. They were not identified in a preliminary police report.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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