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Temple Terrace Traffic Stop Nets Identity Theft Charge

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 16, 2008

Updated: 09/16/2008 11:41 am

Temple Terrace police pulled over a man for playing music too loudly in his Saturn and made an identity fraud arrest, officers say.

Police arrested Joshua A. Smoot, 28, of Tampa, at 3:59 a.m. Monday.

Officers pulled over Smoot at East Fowler and Gillette avenues because music could be heard more than 150 feet from the vehicle, Temple Terrace Police Department spokesman Mike Dunn said. Smoot said he was Bryan Harmon and gave officers a birth date, saying he only had a Pennsylvania license.

An officer ran Harmon's name and found a Florida license in that name and date of birth, Dunn said. The photograph didn't look like the Saturn's driver.

The officer contacted Lakeland police, who went to Harmon's home. Harmon was there and said he didn't give anyone his information to use. He went to the scene of the traffic stop and was unable to identify Smoot, a criminal arrest affidavit states.

Officers arrested Smoot, who continued to say he was Harmon.

Smoot was taken to Orient Road Jail and identified by a fingerprint scanner. Smoot never voluntarily provided his identity, according to the affidavit.

He was charged with identity theft, resisting a law enforcement officer and driving with an invalid license, and he was cited for playing music too loudly. He also was arrested on warrants accusing him of tampering with a victim and failing to appear on charges of delivery of cocaine and possession of cocaine.

Smoot remained in Orient Road Jail today. His bail had not been set.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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