Suspected car thief caught with stolen gun, meth elbows Tampa police officer in chest during arrest: TPD
Two charged in car burglaries, credit card fraud
Two suspected auto thieves were busted Tuesday night in a string of auto thefts and burglaries that spanned from Tampa to Pinellas County.�Kylie Jones reports.
TAMPA, Fla. - Two suspected auto thieves were busted Tuesday night in a string of auto thefts and burglaries that spanned from Tampa to Pinellas County.
Timeline:
On June 22, 2025, law enforcement officers say a Jeep Wrangler was stolen from The Seazen Apartments at 7616 Courtney Campbell Cswy.
On June 27, police say an auto burglary occurred at the same apartment complex, and the suspect stole a wallet and credit cards.
Police say the suspect then tries to use the stolen credit cards at the Publix near Gandy Blvd and Dale Mabry Hwy.
Investigators said that the suspect fled from Clearwater Police in the stolen Jeep on July 7.
On July 8, Tampa police recovered the stolen Jeep Wrangler, which they said now had a stolen tag from a different black Jeep Wrangler in Clearwater, in the Target parking garage at 1544 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.
According to the Tampa Police Department, the Jeep contained stolen items linked to numerous auto burglaries in Tampa (particularly in West Tampa near the Courtney Campbell Cswy and Avion Park), and in Clearwater.
Later that day, officers saw convicted felon 30-year-old Joshua Connor Murdock and 37-year-old Aaron Alderman in a silver Hyundai Elantra with an unregistered tag in the rear parking lot of a hotel in the 4300 block of W. Spruce St.
Murdock and Alderman are accused of entering numerous vehicles and stealing various items.
Courtesy: Tampa Police Dept.
Murdock was captured on surveillance video on two separate occasions using stolen credit cards, with his distinct tattoos aiding in his identification.
Dig deeper:
Officers moved to detail the men and that’s when they say Murdock violently resisted arrest and struck an officer in the chest with his elbow.
Police said a check on the Hyundai Elantra showed that it was stolen.
While searching Murdock’s backpack, police said they found a stolen handgun. Police said he also had methamphetamine on him.
Stolen license plates and additional stolen property were recovered from the vehicle, according to TPD.
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Murdock was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, carrying a concealed firearm, felon in possession of a firearm (two counts), armed burglary of a conveyance (two counts), grand theft of firearm (two counts), grand theft auto (two counts), grand theft, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance (five counts), petit theft, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance-meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, fraudulent use of credit card, unauthorized use of credit card, and possession of a stolen credit card.
Alderman was charged with grand theft auto and burglary of an unoccupied conveyance.
Police say both men are charged in the theft of the Hyundai Elantra. Murdock is faces charges in the theft of the Jeep Wrangler.
Police are still working to figure out whether the suspects hit any other place or vehicles during the string of thefts and break-ins.
The Source: This story was written with information from the Tampa Police Department.