ALTOONA, Florida—A man released from prison just three months ago is back behind bars after fleeing from a Lake County Sheriff’s Office detective in a stolen truck Tuesday, according to an arrest affidavit.
An LCSO detective went to a home on Lake King Road in Altoona Tuesday morning to interview Dennis James Imhoff, 36, about his involvement in a vehicle burglary. When the detective arrived, Imhoff was unloading items from a white Chevy truck, later determined to be stolen, the affidavit states.
The detective identified himself and Imhoff got in the truck and backed through the yard in a “reckless manner,” ran a stop sign at Rea Way and State Road 19 and then traveled to County Road 42. LCSO attempted to stop Imhoff, and he fled northbound on Big Oak Road.
The detective received information Imhoff entered a driveway on East Altoona Road, and he located the truck, covered with a tarp, behind the home. The detective then discovered the truck was stolen from Umatilla on Monday, the affidavit states.
LCSO canvassed the area from 10:50 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tuesday and failed to find Imhoff. Shortly after 3:30 p.m. LCSO received a call Imhoff was around County Road 42, and he was located by a K9 deputy and its handler. Imhoff was instructed to stop running and he failed to, and K9 Murphy was deployed and apprehended Imhoff.
Imhoff was transported to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares for treatment of a dog bite and medically cleared, according to the affidavit. He was arrested for grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding and resisting without violence.
Imhoff is currently on probation and suspected in more than six grand theft auto cases in Marion County and Volusia County. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
