Flagler County, FL - Two brothers that were found with a missing person's vehicle are now wanted by Polk County authorities who say they have multiple felony warrants.
A deputy with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) found a reported missing person's vehicle driving in the area of County Road 325 and US-1 last Friday (November 6th). After conducting a traffic stop on the vehicle, the driver, identified as 19-year-old Jo "Jojo" Lobato, fled on foot. The passenger, and his brother, 18-year-old Angel Lobato, remained on scene but refused to talk to law enforcement. At the time of the traffic stop, the vehicle was not reported stolen and the whereabouts of the missing person were unknown.
Because of the suspicious circumstances of Jojo fleeing from a traffic stop involving a missing person’s vehicle, an extensive search was conducted for him. Investigators later responded to impound the car and for evidence preservation, just in case the owner of the car was located—which they were not.
Neither subject had and active arrest warrant at the time of contact with deputies. The recovered vehicle is impounded pending further investigation.
According to a release from FCSO, the vehicle was registered to a Lakeland resident who was reported missing two days before deputies found his car and has since been found dead.
Deputies say their initial investigation at the traffic stop yielded no probable cause to charge Angel, and Jojo was not found. The investigation continued as Flagler investigators began to work with Lakeland Police detectives. Days after the investigation started, the missing person’s body was discovered in Lake Wales, Florida.
Polk County authorities are now on the hunt for the Lobato brothers, who have have multiple felony warrants for grand theft of a motor vehicle, vehicle burglary, giving false information during a capital felony, tampering with evidence, and accessory after the fact of a capital investigation.
“These individuals are now persons of interest in a capital crime and are wanted fugitives from Polk
County,” Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly said. "These brothers should be considered armed and dangerous. While we do not believe they are in Flagler County any longer, if you see either of them please call us immediately and do not approach them.”
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the Lobatos are asked to contact Polk County Sheriff’s Detective Brannon at 863-298-6200. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at
1-800-226 TIPS (8477). Additionally, you can submit tips by dialing **TIPS on your phone, or you can submit an anonymous tip through their website.
