State Attorney’s Office finds Lake County deputy’s fatal shooting of Timotheus Reed lawful
LEESBURG, Fla. — A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy acted lawfully when he fatally shot Timotheus Reed while responding to a reported stabbing in April, according to a review released by the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. The six-page review, dated Wednesday, concluded the deputy reasonably feared for his life when Reed allegedly ignored repeated commands, reached into his pocket and turned toward the deputy from approximately 10 feet away. The State Attorney’s Office closed the case without filing charges. Its review did not identify the deputy. The incident began at approximately 6:22 a.m. April 12 when a woman
3 Lake County Jail detention deputies arrested in alleged child care assistance fraud scheme
TAVARES, Fla. — Two Lake County detention deputies are accused of using forged pay records to obtain child care assistance, and a third is accused of helping them, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began Sept. 10 after a representative of the Early Learning Coalition of Lake County contacted LCSO about suspected fraud involving two detention deputies employed at the Lake County Jail, LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. The coalition provides financial assistance for child care through federal and state grant funding. Pay records submitted for the two deputies were flagged because of discrepancies involving their historical
Eustis police release few details about overnight shooting
EUSTIS, Fla. — Eustis police are investigating after a person arrived at AdventHealth Waterman with a single gunshot wound to the head early Wednesday morning. Officers responded to the hospital at approximately 12:50 a.m., Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake. The victim was in stable condition Wednesday afternoon, Capri said. Inside Lake contacted Capri Wednesday morning after receiving multiple calls about police activity on Blackberry Court and reports that AdventHealth Waterman had been placed on lockdown following the victim’s arrival. Tavares Police Department later confirmed the lockdown. Capri initially declined to release any information, citing an active investigation.
Clermont man fatally struck while crossing County Road 455
CLERMONT, Fla. — A 37-year-old Clermont man was killed Monday morning when he was struck by a car while walking in a marked crosswalk, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The man was walking east across County Road 455 just north of Great Lawn Way in unincorporated Clermont at 6:10 a.m. when 2019 Acura TLX traveling southbound struck him, FHP said. The driver, a 19-year-old Davenport woman, did not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk before the collision, according to FHP. She was not injured. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
LCSO investigating after skeletal remains found in Astor
ASTOR, Fla. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is in Astor investigating after possible human remains were found early Friday afternoon. Just before 12:45 p.m., LCSO received a report of possible skeletal remains found in a wooded area near Camp McQuarrie Road and State Road 40, Deputy Stephanie Earley said. Detectives and the Crime Scene Investigations unit are currently on scene investigating, Earley said. “At this time, we cannot confirm whether the remains are human. Additional information will be provided once the Medical Examiner has completed the examination and provided confirmation,” Earley said. “This is an active and ongoing investigation.”
Groveland man killed in wrong-way crash on State Road 33
GROVELAND, Fla. — A 22-year-old Groveland man was killed Wednesday morning after he struck a tractor-trailer head-on while driving the wrong way on State Road 33, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The Groveland man was driving a 2005 Ford Five Hundred southbound in the northbound lane of State Road 33, north of Edgewood Boys Ranch Road in unincorporated Groveland, just after 6 a.m. when he drove into the path of a 2012 Mack tractor-trailer driven by a 47-year-old Riverview man. The Riverview man swerved to the right in an attempt to avoid the Ford, but the vehicles collided head-on,
News Briefs
25 years later, Lake County to honor lives lost in Sept. 11 attacks
TAVARES, Fla. — Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Lake County will hold a remembrance ceremony Friday morning to honor the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in the rotunda of the Lake County Administration Building, 315 W. Main St. in Tavares. Mount Dora High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets will perform a Table of Honor, a solemn tribute to those who are no longer with us. Lake County Teen Court participants will also take part in the observance by reading the names of victims of the Sept.
Mount Dora High to recognize partners behind $6 million stadium renovation
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Community partners who helped make a $6 million renovation of Mount Dora High School’s football stadium possible will be recognized Friday during the Hurricanes’ game against rival Eustis High School. The newly renovated W.T. Bland Jr. Stadium at Mount Dora Community Trust Field, 700 N. Highland St., was officially unveiled during a ribbon-cutting last week attended by school district leaders and community partners. “This renovation was a massive undertaking, and honestly, it wouldn’t have happened without the hard work of so many people,” Mount Dora High School Principal Kyle Bracewell said. Those who contributed to the
FWC invites anglers to reel in recognition with Big Catch program
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is encouraging anglers to put their freshwater catches to the test through its Big Catch recognition program. The family-friendly program recognizes anglers who catch qualifying fish from more than 30 freshwater species found throughout Florida. Fish must meet or exceed qualifying length or weight requirements. To participate, anglers must catch a qualifying fish using an active hook-and-line method, take a photo and submit the catch through the Big Catch program. Participants receive recognition and a printable certificate. Youth anglers under 16 have separate, easier qualifying sizes, allowing younger fishermen
Lake County Fire Rescue to celebrate opening of new Station 71
LEESBURG, Fla. — Lake County Fire Rescue will celebrate the opening of its new Fire Station 71 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Sept. 2. The event is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. at the new station, 33661 County Road 473 in Leesburg. Members of the public are invited to tour the station, meet Lake County Fire Rescue firefighters and first responders, and view fire apparatus and emergency equipment. “Events like this allow our community to see firsthand the people, equipment, and facilities that stand ready to serve them when they need us most,” Lake County Public Safety
2 Lake County intersections transitioning to all-way stops
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Two Lake County intersections will permanently transition to all-way stops beginning Thursday, Aug. 20, as part of recommended safety improvements. The intersections are Radio Road and Treadway School Road in Leesburg and East Crooked Lake Drive and Country Club Road in Eustis. Message boards are already in place to alert motorists of the upcoming changes. Drivers are encouraged to use caution and be prepared for the new traffic patterns beginning Thursday.
Dinosaurs return to Mount Dora library through August
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Dinosaurs are on display at the W.T. Bland Public Library through Aug. 31 as part of a free prehistoric exhibit for visitors of all ages. The exhibit includes a 20-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a juvenile T. rex, an in-flight pterosaur, a fossil dig panel and a giant dinosaur egg photo opportunity. Dinosaur-themed bookmarks and educational materials are also available. The library will host “All About T. rex” at 2 p.m. Aug. 29, featuring paleontologist Jimmy Waldron of Dinosaurs Will Always Be Awesome. The program is designed for adults and children ages 8 and older and will
Around The County
State Attorney’s Office finds Lake County deputy’s fatal shooting of Timotheus Reed lawful
LEESBURG, Fla. — A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy acted lawfully when he fatally shot Timotheus Reed while responding to a reported stabbing in April, according to a review released by the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. The six-page review, dated Wednesday, concluded the deputy reasonably feared for his life when Reed allegedly ignored repeated commands, reached into his pocket and turned toward the deputy from approximately 10 feet away. The State Attorney’s Office closed the case without filing charges. Its review did not identify the deputy. The incident began at approximately 6:22 a.m. April 12 when a woman
3 Lake County Jail detention deputies arrested in alleged child care assistance fraud scheme
TAVARES, Fla. — Two Lake County detention deputies are accused of using forged pay records to obtain child care assistance, and a third is accused of helping them, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began Sept. 10 after a representative of the Early Learning Coalition of Lake County contacted LCSO about suspected fraud involving two detention deputies employed at the Lake County Jail, LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. The coalition provides financial assistance for child care through federal and state grant funding. Pay records submitted for the two deputies were flagged because of discrepancies involving their historical
Eustis police release few details about overnight shooting
EUSTIS, Fla. — Eustis police are investigating after a person arrived at AdventHealth Waterman with a single gunshot wound to the head early Wednesday morning. Officers responded to the hospital at approximately 12:50 a.m., Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake. The victim was in stable condition Wednesday afternoon, Capri said. Inside Lake contacted Capri Wednesday morning after receiving multiple calls about police activity on Blackberry Court and reports that AdventHealth Waterman had been placed on lockdown following the victim’s arrival. Tavares Police Department later confirmed the lockdown. Capri initially declined to release any information, citing an active investigation.
State Attorney’s Office finds Lake County deputy’s fatal shooting of Timotheus Reed lawful
LEESBURG, Fla. — A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy acted lawfully when he fatally shot Timotheus Reed while responding to a reported stabbing in April, according to a review released by the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. The six-page review, dated Wednesday, concluded the deputy reasonably feared for his life when Reed allegedly ignored repeated commands, reached into his pocket and turned toward the deputy from approximately 10 feet away. The State Attorney’s Office closed the case without filing charges. Its review did not identify the deputy. The incident began at approximately 6:22 a.m. April 12 when a woman
3 Lake County Jail detention deputies arrested in alleged child care assistance fraud scheme
TAVARES, Fla. — Two Lake County detention deputies are accused of using forged pay records to obtain child care assistance, and a third is accused of helping them, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began Sept. 10 after a representative of the Early Learning Coalition of Lake County contacted LCSO about suspected fraud involving two detention deputies employed at the Lake County Jail, LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. The coalition provides financial assistance for child care through federal and state grant funding. Pay records submitted for the two deputies were flagged because of discrepancies involving their historical
Eustis police release few details about overnight shooting
EUSTIS, Fla. — Eustis police are investigating after a person arrived at AdventHealth Waterman with a single gunshot wound to the head early Wednesday morning. Officers responded to the hospital at approximately 12:50 a.m., Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake. The victim was in stable condition Wednesday afternoon, Capri said. Inside Lake contacted Capri Wednesday morning after receiving multiple calls about police activity on Blackberry Court and reports that AdventHealth Waterman had been placed on lockdown following the victim’s arrival. Tavares Police Department later confirmed the lockdown. Capri initially declined to release any information, citing an active investigation.
Clermont man fatally struck while crossing County Road 455
CLERMONT, Fla. — A 37-year-old Clermont man was killed Monday morning when he was struck by a car while walking in a marked crosswalk, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The man was walking east across County Road 455 just north of Great Lawn Way in unincorporated Clermont at 6:10 a.m. when 2019 Acura TLX traveling southbound struck him, FHP said. The driver, a 19-year-old Davenport woman, did not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk before the collision, according to FHP. She was not injured. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
LCSO investigating after skeletal remains found in Astor
ASTOR, Fla. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is in Astor investigating after possible human remains were found early Friday afternoon. Just before 12:45 p.m., LCSO received a report of possible skeletal remains found in a wooded area near Camp McQuarrie Road and State Road 40, Deputy Stephanie Earley said. Detectives and the Crime Scene Investigations unit are currently on scene investigating, Earley said. “At this time, we cannot confirm whether the remains are human. Additional information will be provided once the Medical Examiner has completed the examination and provided confirmation,” Earley said. “This is an active and ongoing investigation.”
Groveland man killed in wrong-way crash on State Road 33
GROVELAND, Fla. — A 22-year-old Groveland man was killed Wednesday morning after he struck a tractor-trailer head-on while driving the wrong way on State Road 33, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The Groveland man was driving a 2005 Ford Five Hundred southbound in the northbound lane of State Road 33, north of Edgewood Boys Ranch Road in unincorporated Groveland, just after 6 a.m. when he drove into the path of a 2012 Mack tractor-trailer driven by a 47-year-old Riverview man. The Riverview man swerved to the right in an attempt to avoid the Ford, but the vehicles collided head-on,