Woman accused of stealing car, driving it into lake

DESTIN — A Milton woman is accused of stealing a car and driving it into a lake at Indian Bayou Golf & Country Club.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a vehicle in the middle of the golf course lake around 8:30 a.m. Aug. 1. The Dodge Dart belongs to a man staying at a Destin hotel, according to an OCSO spokesperson.

The OCSO tracked down the owner, Sam Farrell, believed to be staying with Elizabeth Sims, 21, of Milton, at a Destin hotel for work reasons. Farrell said he fell asleep the night before while Sims was drinking in the hotel room.

Another person said she went outside and noticed Farrell’s car was missing, and was later woken up by Sims, who was wet and crying. She said Sims told her she’d taken Farrell’s car and almost died because she ended up in a lake.

The OCSO charged Sims with grand theft of a motor vehicle. The OCSO also gave her traffic citations for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, and driving with a suspended license.

Deputies said when Sims was placed under arrest her purse was soaking wet.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Woman accused of stealing car, driving it into lake