An unmarked FBI car has been found, and a Tampa man has been arrested and charged with the theft.
The 2006 silver Pontiac Grand Prix was stolen about 1:30 p.m. from the Century Buick Pontiac GMC dealership at 3308 W. Hillsborough Ave. According to Tampa police, a mechanic was working on the car when he noticed a man loitering nearby. A short time later, when his attention was diverted, the man stole the car, police said.
Tampa police Cpl. Harold McCray was on patrol when he spotted the car being driven recklessly near North 26th Street and East Linebaugh Avenue at 11:17 p.m. Tuesday. It looked similar to the description he had heard of the stolen FBI vehicle, so he ran the Florida tag: X74IVY.
The Grand Prix turned onto the North 26th Street, and he followed it.
Soon after, the vehicle's tag information came back as belonging to the FBI and having been stolen.
McCray saw a man get out of the vehicle at 10206 N. Altman St. and go to the home's door. McCray confronted the man, Harold E. Scheidemann, and ordered him to the ground. Scheidemann stayed there until police backup arrived.
He temporarily lost sight of the car but found it again parked in front of a home at N. Altman St., Lt. William Ferguson said.
Scheidemann, of 13106 N. Florida Ave., denied stealing the car and told police, "I'm just here to buy some crack cocaine," Lt. William Ferguson said.
Scheidemann was charged with grand theft auto and auto burglary. The 48-year-old is also charged with violating probation stemming from an earlier grand theft auto charge.
The FBI car was taken to the Tampa Police Department's impound lot.
Scheidemann's prior convictions include grand theft of a motor vehicle, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence.
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