North Carolina
Man in missing Palm Beach Gardens Lyft driver investigation held on $2 million bond in North Carolina
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, North Carolina — A Florida homicide suspect, who was arrested Thursday whereas driving the car of a lacking Lyft driver from Palm Seashore Gardens, is being held on a $2 million bond in North Carolina.
Matthew Scott Flores, 35, appeared earlier than a choose in Rutherford County, North Carolina, Friday after he was apprehended following a three-county chase Thursday.
Flores faces a number of prices together with second-degree homicide, possession of a firearm by a felon and discharging a firearm in public. He’s additionally accused of eluding legislation enforcement, rushing and intoxicated driving.
Decide Ann Mcentire additionally stated he’s being held on a Florida fugitive warrant.
Lyft driver Gary Levin hasn’t been heard from since Monday when his household says he picked up a buyer in Delray Seashore. His purple 2022 Kia Stinger was noticed in Miami that day, after which in a rural space north of Lake Okeechobee and later in north Florida, officers stated.
The car was seen Thursday night in North Carolina after the U.S. Marshal’s regional activity drive requested authorities to be looking out. Flores was arrested following a police chase by way of three counties, Rutherford County, North Carolina Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg.
Palm Seashore Gardens Police Division
Ellenburg stated North Carolina state troopers used cease sticks to halt the car in Ellenboro. The sheriff stated Flores fled briefly on foot earlier than he was apprehended and brought to a hospital for an analysis. He was later booked into the county jail, and the car was taken to a safe location, the sheriff stated.
Flores is a suspect in a slaying on Jan. 24 — practically per week earlier than Levin disappeared on Monday.
Authorities are investigating how Flores obtained the lacking Lyft driver’s automotive — Levin’s household stated they have no idea whether or not Flores was the passenger Levin picked up in Delray Seashore on Monday. John Eason, the police chief in Wauchula, Florida, in Hardee County advised The AP in a telephone interview that officers are heading to North Carolina in hopes of interviewing Flores concerning the Jan. 24 killing and the lacking Lyft driver.
“Our largest concern at this level is discovering and figuring out the place Mr. Levin is at,” Eason stated. “Lots of that relies on whether or not the suspect cooperates with us.”
Flores is dealing with a second-degree homicide cost and different counts stemming from the deadly taking pictures final month of Jose Carlos Martinez in Wauchula. A girl who Eason stated assisted Flores in fleeing from police, Stephanie Velgara, will likely be charged with being an adjunct after the actual fact within the Martinez killing.
It wasn’t instantly clear if Velgara has a lawyer to talk on her behalf. Eason stated she remained in custody Friday in Florida’s Hardee County jail.
Wauchula is about 70 miles southeast of Tampa and about 127 miles northwest of Levin’s dwelling in Palm Seashore Gardens.
Lyft didn’t instantly reply Friday to an e mail in search of remark about Levin.
However Levin’s daughter, Lindsay DiBetta, advised the AP the household has discovered that Levin took an unknown buyer to Okeechobee, a small metropolis on the sting of Lake Okeechobee, and accomplished the experience someday after 4 p.m. on Monday.
She stated the household was advised by Lyft that the experience was accomplished someday after 4 p.m. He additionally spoke to buddies by telephone round 4 p.m. that day and “all appeared effectively,” Dibetta stated.
However virtually instantly, one thing went mistaken, she stated. His telephone was turned off and nobody has heard from him since then.
DiBetta stated the Lyft gig was nice for Levin, who loves telling dad jokes and infrequently tells them again and again. “It was the proper setup for him. He would get a brand new viewers each experience,” she stated.
She stated her father was an auto physique salesman earlier than retiring to Florida, and that his automotive “was his child.”
“What occurred to my dad? Did (Flores) hurt my dad?” DiBetta stated. “We simply don’t know.”
A Lyft spokesperson launched the next assertion Friday concerning the investigation:
“Our ideas are with Mr. Levin’s household and family members throughout this deeply regarding time. We have been in contact together with his household to supply our assist, in addition to with legislation enforcement to help with their investigation.”