Man ordered to pay $15,000 after stealing Lyft driver’s car in West Palm Beach
A Pompano Beach man accused of stealing a Lyft driver’s car at a West Palm Beach gas station has been ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution and faces a plea conference later this month.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —
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A man accused of stealing a rideshare driver’s car at a West Palm Beach gas station was ordered to pay the victim.
According to court documents in Palm Beach County, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, Judge Sarah Willis ordered Delcan P. Murphy, 27, from Pompano Beach, to pay a Lyft driver $15,000 in restitution by Monday, Sept. 28.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Delcan Patrick Murphy
Court records indicate that a plea conference for Murphy is scheduled for Sept. 28 in a West Palm Beach courtroom.
WPBF 25 News contacted the attorney representing Murphy for comment on the restitution and the plea conference and is awaiting a response.
According to court documents, a Lyft driver picked up Murphy in Deerfield Beach to take him to Jacksonville on March 4.
The victim stopped at a Marathon gas station located at 1840 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and Tamarind Avenue in West Palm Beach for fuel.
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A West Palm Beach Police Department report said the victim stopped at the gas station and went inside the station to prepay for fuel and left Murphy, who was a passenger, in the car.
The report notes that as the victim returned to the car, he saw Murphy exit the back seat, enter the driver’s seat and drive off in the car.
The victim tried to stop Murphy but was unsuccessful.
The victim called a family member who picked him up at the gas station and began to follow Murphy while on the telephone with 911 dispatch.
Murphy crashed the car into the rear of another vehicle on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and Tamarind Avenue.
According to the police report, Murphy exited the car and ran away, but the family member of the victim got out of his car and tackled Murphy to the ground.
Moments later, responding West Palm Beach Police Department officers took Murphy into custody.
Murphy pled not guilty to a charge of grand theft automobile with damage over $1,000.
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