NICEVILLE, Fla. — A Niceville man has been arrested after allegedly driving a stolen vehicle that was about to be sold to a local buyer on Facebook Marketplace, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office announced.
Deputies say the investigation began on May 21 after a concerned resident reported suspicious photos of a Honda CRV listed for sale online, including an image with a smeared VIN (vehicle identification number). The potential buyer had contacted the OCSO after spotting red flags.
A patrol deputy later saw the vehicle heading south on North Beal Parkway Extension near Fort Walton Beach. During a roadside investigation, the deputy reportedly located an insurance card with the vehicle’s VIN, which indicated that the vehicle had been reported stolen in New York. Deputies said they also found that the license plate on the vehicle had not been assigned to it.
After the driver was taken to booking, deputies encountered conflicting identity details from the suspect and further investigated his records. The man was ultimately identified as 27-year-old Irvin Arias Marquez.
Mr Arias Marquez is facing multiple charges, including grand theft auto, license attached not assigned, driving with a suspended license (habitual offender), failure to register a motor vehicle, and providing false information on a driver’s license application.
OCSO supervisors praised the teamwork between night and day shift patrol deputies, saying their quick response not only led to the recovery of the stolen SUV but also prevented a local resident from unknowingly purchasing stolen property.
