Bike rider admits to car theft

With the help of the community, a Century man is sitting behind bars awaiting extradition to Alabama to face multiple charges after he was accused of riding a stolen bicycle to the Texaco Station in Flomaton and stealing a vehicle.

Michael Alexander Dubose, 25, 7640 Pleasant Hill Road, was arrested Friday at his Century residence the day after the vehicle was stolen.

He faces charges of theft of property I, theft of property IV and criminal trespassing III in Alabama. Other charges may be pending in Florida.

Flomaton Police Capt. Chance Thompson said a resident drove his 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe to the Texaco Station at 1021 Sidney Manning Boulevard about 7:30 p.m. last Thursday. He said the man left the vehicle running while he went inside the store to make a purchase. A subject, later identified as Dubose, got into the vehicle and drove toward Century.

Thompson said there were no witnesses to the vehicle theft, but noted the bicycle was found in a ditch at the convenience store. With the use of security cameras and social media, Dubose was identified as the person riding the bicycle.

Thompson said Dubose came to the Flomaton Police Department the following day but denied any knowledge of the stolen Tahoe.

A further investigation led police to get warrants for Dubose's arrest. Capt. Thompson and Sgt. Issac Lopez accompanied Escambia County (Fla.) deputies to Dubose's 7640 Pleasant Hill Road residence Saturday and he was placed under arrest and transported to the Escambia County Jail in Pensacola.

Thompson said Dubose eventually confessed to stealing the vehicle and told officers the location of the stolen Tahoe.

Thompson said a photograph of the bicycle was put on Facebook, which not only helped identify Dubose, but the bicycle was reported stolen from a residence on Martin Luther King Drive in Flomaton. Dubose's charges of theft of property IV and criminal trespassing III are for stealing the bicycle.

"Tips from the community helped us locate the suspect," Thompson said. "I want to thank all the people who provided us with leads that led to his arrest less than 24 hours after the vehicle theft."

As of press time Wednesday, Dubose remained in the county jail in Pensacola awaiting extradition to Escambia County, Ala.