3 arrested in connection with 61 boat propeller thefts in Fort Pierce

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said they have arrested three suspects wanted in connection with 61 stolen boat propellers valued at nearly $73,000.

The arrests were made Thursday afternoon near the 3200 block of Avenue D.

“At the time of their arrest, the suspects were attempting to sell parts from a stolen Volvo Penta Outdrive to a local scrap yard,” Sheriff Ken Mascara said. “The victim in this case reported the property stolen Tuesday afternoon.”

According to deputies, the boat propellers are valued at nearly $73,000.

“Sadly, what we see with most thieves is a nexus to drug use, and the value of the property stolen is sold for pennies on the dollar to fuel their drug use,” Mascara said. “In this case, the approximate value of each propeller is $1,200, and these thieves sold them for $126 on average.”

St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office

Detectives said they located eight of the 61 missing propellers, which, according to deputies, the suspects stole between Sept. 22 and Dec. 14 of this year.

Thirty-nine-year-old Richard Dale Gillispie, of Fort Pierce, has been arrested on 20 counts of dealing in stolen property and 20 counts of providing false information to a secondhand dealer. He was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

Forty-five-year-old Christopher Ward Summerlin, of Fort Pierce, has been arrested on five counts of dealing in stolen property and five counts of providing false information to a secondhand dealer. He was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail on a $62,500 bond.

Thirty-three-year-old Michelle Stephanie Gillispie, of Fort Pierce, has been arrested for burglary and grand theft. She was booked into the St. Lucie County Jail on a $12,500 bond.

Anyone with information regarding this case should call the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 1-800-273-TIPS (8477).