Officials with the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) and Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) said they responded to the BMW dealership in Gainesville after a suspect drove their vehicle into the building after being denied a test drive.
GFR firefighters said no injuries were reported on the scene and the structural integrity of the building was intact so they did not respond further.
GPD officers said they arrested KAL, 20, on Tuesday for attempting to steal a vehicle from the business.
Officers told TV20 the suspect entered the business located at 2853 North Main Street around 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Authorities said L went in with intentions to buy an M4, valued at $110,000, but did not pass the credit check required to qualify for a test drive.
Officials said L became upset and attempted to grab the keys to the vehicle as he was exiting the building. Employees did not allow him to take the keys and he was not able to complete the transaction, officers said.
GPD officials said L went back out into the parking lot and sat in his car before circling the dealership twice, then hitting the gas and running into the windows of the showroom.
Officers said when he crashed inside, he rummaged around and continued to look for the keys to the vehicle but was not successful.
He left on foot and was contacted by GPD officers a short distance later, they said.
GPD officials told TV20 that L had to complete a medical checkup before getting detained. He was booked into the Alachua County Jail on Tuesday at 4:44 p.m.
Officers said they estimate the damage to the building at about $60,000, but investigators are still working on determining the true damage value.
He faces grand theft auto felony and criminal mischief charges.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information is learned.
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Source: wcjb
