UPDATED: 1 Arrested, 1 Sought: Truck Stolen In Early-Morning Deltona Carjacking

Date Added: August 28, 2017 4:00 pm

Originally posted August 17, 2017 11:40am
Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

TRUCK STOLEN IN EARLY-MORNING DELTONA CARJACKING

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed carjacking that was reported Thursday morning outside a home in Deltona.

Deputies responded to a call around 5:52 a.m. on the 700 block of Merrimac Street, where the victim had stopped to pick up a coworker on the way to work.

The victim reported two unknown male suspects arrived at the house in a gray car with front-end damage. One suspect got out, pointed a gun at the victim and co-worker and stole the victim’s red 2007 Dodge Ram 1500.

Deputies are actively investigating leads and working to locate the vehicle and suspects.

 

Update 8/28/2017: With an accomplice already in custody in an armed carjacking on Merrimac Street in Deltona, Volusia County sheriff’s detectives are still looking for the main suspect, accused of holding a gun to the victim’s head in the Aug. 17 robbery.

The wanted suspect is 36-year-old Gustavo Rivera (DOB 4/3/1981), facing charges of carjacking with a firearm, use/display of a firearm during a felony offense and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Rivera’s whereabouts are unknown. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or submit an anonymous tip via Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS or via westopcrime.com. Tips may qualify for a reward of up to $5,000.

The suspect in custody is 38-year-old Walter R. Hager (DOB 5/2/1979) of Deltona, who has been in the Volusia County Branch Jail since Aug. 19 on unrelated charges while the investigation continued. On Friday, Hager was charged with principal to carjacking with a firearm and grand theft auto. He’s also charged with possession of a schedule IV substance with intent to sell and is being held without bond on a charge of failure to register as a career offender as well as two counts of possession of a schedule II substance and a count of possession of Hydromorphone.

Detectives believe Hager drove to the scene on Merrimac Street with Rivera and drove away in the victim’s truck after Rivera held the victim at gunpoint.

Both suspects have significant criminal histories. Rivera has 13 past felony charges related to narcotics, grand theft auto, battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. Hager has 37 past felony charges related to narcotics, burglary, escape, battery, aggravated battery with a firearm, theft, resisting a law enforcement officer without violence and firing a missile into a dwelling, vehicle or building.

Those who have spot Rivera or have information about him are asked not to approach him, but to contact authorities via 911 or via Crime Stoppers (again, 888-277-TIPS, westopcrime.com) if he or she wishes to remain anonymous.