Douglas Arthur Middleton
Douglas Arthur Middleton convinced a valet at The Seagate Hotel in Delray Beach on Friday night that he owned a rented Mercedes, then drove off in the car, according to Delray Beach police.
Now the 59-year-old Orlando man faces a grand theft charge.
The valet told police that he showed Middleton the key to the car, and Middleton told the valet that the key belonged to him, according to an arrest report made public Tuesday.
The valet then pulled the car around and handed Middleton the key before he drove off.
A couple from New York staying at the Atlantic Avenue hotel reported the car stolen Saturday morning, when they tried to retrieve the Mercedes and noticed it was gone, the arrest report said.
Police saw Middleton on surveillance footage driving off in the Mercedes, which had been rented from Hertz, police say.
Middleton was being arrested Saturday night on a disorderly intoxication charge when police realized the car was stolen.
Middleton remained in the Palm Beach County Jail late Tuesday in lieu of 15,000 bail.
