Florida authorities have arrested a man on charges he stole an elderly Portland man’s car at knifepoint last month.

Polk County sheriff’s deputies arrested James C. Stewart, 21, on a Portland warrant Tuesday.

Stewart is accused of pulling a knife on an 83-year-old man who was unloading groceries from his silver Buick LeSabre in his garage on Alpine Road March 16. Police say Stewart stole the car and believe he used it to drive to Florida.

An hour earlier, there was another attempted car-jacking when a man threatened another man with a knife at an nearby apartment complex demanding the man’s car keys. The owner refused and ran away.

Police say they identified Stewart in the course of investigating other thefts in the area and were able to obtain the warrant.

Maine authorities are now seeking to extradite Stewart to Maine to face the charges
 


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