Man arrested in NC after being found with car of missing South Florida Lyft driver
MIAMI - A man found with the car belonging to a missing South Florida Lyft driver was taken into custody in North Carolina following a police pursuit that spanned several counties, authorities said.
Matthew Scott Flores, 35, appeared during an extradition hearing in North Carolina that was held to determine if he would be returned to Florida.
Flores is accused of several charges in North Carolina that include parole violation, DWI and attempting to evade arrest.
He is accused of a host of charges in Florida that include second-degree murder for a case in Hardee, Florida, possession of firearm by convicted felon and violation of supervised pre-trial release.
74-year-old Gary Levin, who lives in Palm Beach Garden drives for Lyft and who was reported missing Monday.
His family told CBS 4 that local law enforcement authorities found his red 2022 Kia in North Carolina, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Nothing adds up or makes sense," said Lindsay DeBetta, his daughter. "He didn't fall off the face of the earth. He would never vanish on us like this."
DiBetta says her dad drove for the rideshare app in his spare time.
On Monday, she shared he picked up a passenger in Delray Beach shortly before 1:30 p.m., dropping off the rider in Okeechobee County at around 4:30 p.m. She says that's when Levin's Lyft app and cell phone were last active.
"We're all just sick to our stomachs."
Palm Beach Garden's police issued a missing endangered person alert.
"Who would want to hurt him? Is he ok? Our minds are just racing."
DiBetta said authorities are questioning a person found with Levin's KIA.
While they wait for more answers, she hopes her dad's big personality helps locate him.
"He has an extremely contagious laugh. He will always laugh at his own jokes. So, that was like our one positive. If anyone saw him, they'd absolutely know."
Levin's also a huge family man. A loving grandfather and also a super Eagles fan, who was beyond excited for the upcoming Super Bowl.
"Like everyone, well, maybe he just wanted to run away, really depressed, or something. I'm like, no, no, no. The Eagles are going to the Super Bowl. I don't think you understand. This man should be on cloud nine."
Making the days that pass without hearing from dad all the more difficult. "Here's another night, and he's still not home, and have no idea where he is."
DiBetta says the next step will be to look at cameras in the area where he dropped off the passenger.
Authorities in North Carolina said they found Flores on U.S. Highway 64 and pursued him before ending the pursuit using a PIT maneuver. The man then fled on foot from the car and was chased before he was arrested.
Law enforcement authorities said Flores was apparently intoxicated when he was taken into custody and was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to the Rutherford County Detention Center.
