Sebastian Uruena Tafur Arrested By Boca Raton Police For Stolen Gun
Update
The State attorney recently dropped the gun charge.
Sebastian Tafur has been arrested for Grand Theft Auto a few weeks after this incident.
Originally reported by Boca Post
BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) — A Boca Raton teenager was arrested for possession of a stolen firearm Police found in the glove box of a Tesla he was a passenger of following a hit and run accident.
Sebastian Uruena Tafur, 18, who lives in the Crystal Palms apartments in West Boca Raton, was arrested on July 9th, 2022 for “812.014(2C5) THEFT – GRAND THEFT (FIREARM)”.
According to an arrest affidavit submitted by the Boca Raton Police Department, Tafur was charged with being in possession of the stolen firearm that was found in the glove box of a Tesla he was in following a hit and run crash investigation.
Tafur was one of 3 occupants of the Tesla involved in the hit-and-run crash in Boca Raton where the driver was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident. A gun, which was reported stolen out of Boynton Beach, was found in the glove box.
The entire narrative from the arrest affidavit can be found below:
On Saturday, July 9, 2022, at 1409 hours, I responded to 200 W Yamato Rd. in reference to a vehicle accident involving a red 2018 Tesla (FL tag 62BZRG).
I arrived and discovered the occupants Sebastian Uruena, Peter Combs, and Teagan Atwood outside of the vehicle. I was able to ultimately develop probable cause to arrest Combs for hit and run following my investigation. See BRPD case number 2022-008750 for further information in reference to the accident.
Prior to the vehicle being towed Officer Gannon and I conducted an inventory search of the Tesla. During my search, I found a black Smith & Wesson MP9 Shield (HXM0614) in the glove compartment. Officer Gannon processed the S&W through NCIC/FCIC and discovered that it was stolen out of Boynton Beach, FL (Case# 2018-30720).
I first read Teagan her Constitutional Rights from a pre-printed department-issued Miranda card. She advised that she understood all the rights that were read to her. It should be noted that when I arrived on the scene Teagan was sitting in the front passenger seat for the entirety of my investigation. I asked her about the handgun, and she initially said that she did not know the handgun was in the glove compartment. However, during the traffic crash investigation, I asked for the registration and insurance, and I observed Teagan reach in the glove compartment for the paperwork. She continued to deny seeing the handgun even though when I opened the glove compartment, I did not see anything other than the handgun. There was nothing blocking the view of the handgun it was in plain view once the glove compartment was open. I asked Teagan who the handgun belonged to and initially, she said that she did not know but after further questioning, she changed her statement and said that the handgun belonged to Combs. I then asked her how she knew it belonged to Combs and she said that as she was walking in her neighborhood, she saw Combs walking past her with a gray handgun in his waistband. She saw him with it about three weeks ago and she advised that she only saw him with it that one time.
I then spoke to Uruena and read him his Constitutional Rights from a pre-printed department-issued Miranda card. He advised that he understood all the rights that were read to him. Uruena advised that prior to the accident that he was the one in the front passenger seat the entire time. He advised that Teagan did not get into the front passenger seat until after the accident and when paramedics and the police arrived. I asked him about the handgun, and he initially denied knowing it was there; however, after further questioning, he admitted that Combs told him the handgun was in their car. Uruena admitted to knowing the handgun was there, but he did not know who it belonged to even though he was seated directly in front of the handgun when they were driving. Uruena also told me that because it was a Tesla that he didn’t even know how to open the glove compartment but later changed his story to say that Combs showed him how to use the Tesla’s computer screen to open it. It should be noted that the owner of the Tesla, Patrick Horak, was contacted and he informed us that he gave Uruena sole permission to use his vehicle. It should also be noted that Uruena was recently arrested by BRPD (Case number 2022-004667) for a Broward warrant (TMP2022DL9538818) for aggravated assault with a firearm.
I then spoke to Combs and read his juvenile Constitutional Rights from a pre-printed department-issued Miranda card. I read him his rights and he stated it back to me in his own words. Combs denied knowing anything about the handgun in the glove compartment and he did not know to who it belonged. He told me prior to the accident that Uruena was the one in the passenger seat the entire time.
Due to Uruena having knowledge of the stolen handgun being in the glove compartment, his inconsistencies in his statements, and because he was seated directly in front of the handgun, I am charging him with grand theft of a firearm pursuant to Florida Statute. 812.014(2C5). Uruena was transported to the Boca Raton Booking facility for processing and then to the Palm Beach County Jail.
