Steven Charles Whitney, who had been on Charlotte County, Florida’s ‘Most Wanted’ list for over three years, was arrested in Eugene, Oregon. Whitney, born March 16, 1978, was wanted on three felony warrants. The charges include a 2022 incident in Punta Gorda where he allegedly chased and shot at teenagers. After missing a court appearance, Whitney left Florida. He used fake identification and changed vehicle license plates to avoid detection by law enforcement.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Unit continued to search for Whitney. They located him in Eugene with help from the Eugene Police Department. Authorities confirmed his identity and connected him to a local armed robbery investigation. When police tried to serve arrest and search warrants, Whitney barricaded himself in a residence. He surrendered after several hours.
Police searched the property and found multiple fake IDs, 15 pounds of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and several firearms. Whitney now faces new felony charges in Oregon. He will be extradited to Florida after the Oregon cases are resolved, which may take several years…