Second arrest in case of van stolen in Port St. Lucie with disabled man in the back
The man accused of stealing a van with a nonverbal, wheelchair-bound man in the back faced a judge for the first time Wednesday morning.
John Peloquin faces charges of grand theft and abuse of a disabled person.
According to the police report, Peloquin found the van with the engine running and the keys in the ignition in a parking lot on Bayshore Boulevard in Port St. Lucie.
Police said video shows Peloquin getting into the van and driving.
He later told police he had no idea there was a man in the back of the van and immediately abandoned the vehicle when he learned he wasn’t alone.
“He made no attempts to contact law enforcement and/or anyone else about the vehicle location with the disabled nonverbal male inside,” the report said.
The victim’s brother told WPBF 25 News that his brother has a feeding tube and needs frequent medication.
He asked that neither his name nor his brother’s name be used in this report.
He was extremely worried when his brother was missing and overjoyed when he was located.
“That’s the biggest relief you can get,” he said. “My brother is a trusting soul.”
Also in this case, police have made another arrest.
Police said Ernso Oge was the man driving the van for the group home where the victim lives.
His police report said he originally told police he was standing beside the van when it was stolen.
Video below: Surveillance video shows stolen white van with nonverbal man in wheelchair inside
But police said after he was confronted by detectives, he admitted to stopping at the bank, the dry cleaners, and finally a liquor store.
The report said each time, “The vehicle was left running with the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked with (the victim) inside.”
Police said Oge was buying alcohol when the van was stolen.
Oge’s wife is the owner of the group home.
She told police she fired her husband, calling his actions “unacceptable.”