Video: Teens arrested after Mustangs stolen from Ford dealer

Hollins Mills & LaTravious Powell found in pool after fleeing, deputies say

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies arrested two juveniles early Friday morning on grand theft auto and burglary charges after the Flagler County Sheriff's Office said they stole multiple vehicles and led officers on a high-speed chase. 

Dispatch received a call around 4:30 a.m. from a Palm Coast Ford security guard, who said multiple people were attempting to steal at least two Mustang convertibles from the car lot, and that one of the cars had just crashed in the parking lot.

Responding deputies established a perimeter, but after two hours they stopped searching for suspects, the Sheriff's Office said. At about the same time, a black Mustang without a license plate was seen merging onto I-95.

Deputies gave chase, reaching speeds up to 80 mph, according to the Sheriff's Office. Air support was brought in as the driver of the Mustang continued to travel south on I-95, eventually merging onto I-4.

Stop sticks were deployed by Volusia County deputies and the Mustang came to a stop on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Deland.

The Sheriff's Office said the driver, Hollins Mills, 19, and the passenger, LaTravious Powell, 15, tried to flee.

Endo, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office K-9, was brought in and Mills and Powell were found hiding in a pool behind a home, investigators said. They were taken into custody.

"Sheriff's Office. Get your hands up or you'll be bit," one of the deputies was heard saying on body camera.

Both men are charged with grand theft auto in Volusia County. Mills also faces burglary charges, and both men face additional charges in Flagler County including fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement.

"Nobody getting away from ya'll," one of the suspects said.

"That's right. We're like the hide and seek champions," a Volusia County deputy responds.

Deputies are still looking for a third Mustang and additional suspects.

K-9 Endo is a 7-year-old German Shepherd. In 2016, he earned a Purple Heart and the Medal of Valor. He took a bullet to the neck in the line of duty and made a full recovery.


About the Authors:

Tarik anchors the 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. weekday newscasts and reports with the I-TEAM.