KEY WEST, Fla. – Key West police say a man told officers, “Today is (my) birthday” after being told he was under arrest for stealing a Conch Tour Train on the Fourth of July.
According to an arrest report, July 4 was indeed Jonathan Patrick Winslow’s birthday ― his 57th. He’s facing three criminal charges after being accused of taking one of the famous vehicles on a meth-fueled joyride.
Police went to the Conch Tour Train Depot at 1802 Staples Ave. just before 11:30 a.m. Friday after receiving a report that a Conch Train had been stolen and was being GPS tracked around downtown.
An arrest report states that Winslow, of Big Torch Key, left his Kia behind at the depot, still running “with rock music playing on the radio.”
Police said an employee told officers that he had come into the depot, claimed he used to work for the company years ago, and asked for a tour of the train. They said he then got into one of the vehicles and drove off, leaving the employee “confused,” thinking that Winslow may have had permission to take the train.
Winslow did not, police said.
Another employee was able to retrieve the stolen Conch Train near Duval and United streets, police said.
Authorities said Winslow had even picked up “two random passengers” while driving the vehicle.
They found Winslow at the Southernmost Point Buoy. Police said he “exhibited rapid speech and appeared excited” and when being told he was facing charges, claimed he merely “borrowed” the trolley, saying he used to work for the company and “today is his birthday,” the report states.
The report states that while being searched at the jail, a corrections deputy found a pipe in Winslow’s pocket.
“It’s a weed pipe,” police said Winslow exclaimed.
It was not a weed pipe, they said. Instead, it was a methamphetamine pipe.
As of Monday, Winslow faced charges of burglary, grand theft auto, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Records show he was being held at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Key West jail facility on a $60,000 bond.
Editor’s note: The original version of this story misidentified the suspect’s place of residence, Big Torch Key, as Little Torch Key. It has since been corrected.