Florida Man Returns to Jail After Gas Station Carjacking
A Florida man, who had recently been released from jail, finds himself back behind bars following a disturbing incident at a gas station. Surveillance footage from a Mobil station in Apopka, Orange County, allegedly captured Andrew McClellan, 31, in the act of carjacking a woman while she was fueling her vehicle.
McClellan was swiftly arrested and booked into the Volusia County Jail on multiple charges, including vehicle grand theft and battery on a law enforcement officer. This ordeal unfolded when he allegedly stole an SUV from a woman at the Mobil station.
The surveillance video depicted McClellan parking his stolen Toyota near the woman’s SUV and swiftly taking over the driver’s seat. In mere seconds, he was inside the car and trying to make a hasty getaway. A brief scuffle ensued as the woman attempted to prevent him from leaving, which regrettably resulted in her being dragged a short distance.
Witnesses, including Morning Leveille, who was stopped at a traffic light across the street, recounted the incident. Leveille believed that the woman may have been targeted because of her isolation. She described the altercation between the victim and McClellan, highlighting the struggle and the eventual escape.
McClellan’s arrest came a few hours later, thanks to the diligence of Daytona Beach police officers who spotted the stolen vehicle. During his arrest, McClellan initially resisted, even attempting to maneuver his handcuffs to the front. He rushed officers as they opened the patrol car door, resulting in one officer losing balance. Officers had to use force to gain control, and they used a “hobble” to secure his ankles before transporting him to a holding vehicle. Inside that vehicle, he attempted to tighten the “hobble” around his neck, necessitating immediate assistance.
What’s particularly astonishing is that McClellan had been out of jail for less than a week when he committed this crime. He had been released on September 29, having been arrested at the end of August on charges related to the burglary of two businesses on Orange Blossom Trail in Orange County. Curiously, the charges against him, which included burglary of a structure, petit theft, and criminal mischief, were dropped by the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s office, citing their unsuitability for prosecution. As a result, he was released on his own recognizance, as required by Florida law, when formal charges were not filed within 33 days.
Despite these developments, there is no official statement from the State Attorney’s office regarding the decision to drop the initial case or the delay in the second case. As the investigation continues, McClellan remains incarcerated, facing multiple charges, with many questions surrounding the events leading up to his disturbing return to jail.