Second Man Arrested in Newberry Carjacking

NEWBERRY ‒ A second individual has been arrested for a Sept. 19 carjacking in High springs. Justin Will Croft, 29, of Live Oak, was arrested in Suwannee County and transferred to the Alachua County Jail on Oct. 12. He has been charged with carjacking, along with Justin Lee Rimes, 24, who was arrested on Sept. 21.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy responded on Sept. 19 to a report of a carjacking in High Springs. The victim said that Croft, a friend of his, had come to his house recently with Rimes and that he had given the two men a ride to Lake City in a pickup truck owned by his father.

The victim said that during the drive, Rimes started yelling at him and hit him in the face. The victim said he stopped the truck and got out in High Springs. Rimes got into the driver’s seat and drove away. The victim called 911 from that location.

License plate readers showed that the truck had been driven to Marion County.

On Sept. 21, the victim reportedly told deputies that he had been contacted by Croft over Snapchat. The message reportedly asked for the victim’s address so the truck could be returned. Later that night, Croft and Rimes reportedly returned to the victim’s home with the truck.

Deputies responded and took Rimes into custody. They also made contact with Croft, who reportedly told them he lived with the victim and had borrowed the truck. Deputies released him at the time but later issued a warrant for his arrest after the victim recalled that Croft might have been the one who drove the truck away.

Judge Lorelie Brannan set bail at $250,000 for Croft. Rimes remains in the Alachua County Jail, with bail set at $90,000 by Judge Kristine Van Vorst.

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