Florida Officer's Son Accused of Stealing Police Cruiser from home to harass
ex-girlfriend
By Amy L. Edwards The Ledger, 6/03/04
AUBURNDALE, FL -- A 21-year-old man stole his father's police car early
Tuesday and used it to pull over his estranged girlfriend, the Polk County
Sheriff's Office said.
Richard "Ritchie" Melius, who lives with his parents in Polk City,
was arrested on multiple charges, including grand theft auto, stalking and
falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer.
Melius is the son of Mark Melius, 46, a sergeant in the patrol division at the
Lakeland Police Department.
According to a Polk County Sheriff's Office report, Sgt. Melius was asleep
about 12:30 a.m. when his son took his car keys from his bedroom and took the
car for a drive.
Before taking the car, Melius had made nearly a dozen harassing phone calls to
Tabitha McKenzie, his ex-girlfriend, who is pregnant with their baby, the report
said.
It also stated that during the phone calls, Melius tried to intimidate McKenzie
into leaving the home of her new boyfriend.
Melius drove his father's patrol car to Berkley Road near Old Dixie Highway,
where he spotted McKenzie driving alone, the report said.
Melius turned on the vehicle's emergency lights and pulled McKenzie over.
McKenzie, knowing that Melius wasn't supposed to be driving his father's car,
called his parents, and her parents, for help.
When McKenzie's stepfather drove up to the two cars, the report said, he saw
Melius and the patrol car's emergency lights on.
Melius left as soon as he spotted McKenzie's stepfather, the report said, and
drove back home.
He was arrested at his home by a sheriff's deputy.
Melius also faces charges of burglary and driving with a suspended license.
Jail records show he has previous arrests for aggravated fleeing to elude,
resisting arrest and marijuana possession.