EUSTIS, Florida—A man who apparently did not want to pay his tow bill caused around $8,000 damage to two vehicles, a fence and a gate when he took his vehicle without paying, according to an arrest affidavit.
Eustis Police Department responded to Bay Street Paint & Body, 151 West Lemon Avenue just before 6 p.m. Thursday on a report of a verbal altercation and damage to vehicles and a gate. A witness told EPD William Cameron Laforge, 28, had stopped by earlier to retrieve his vehicle that was towed for EPD earlier in the day. The witness said they offered Laforge a 50 percent discount on the tow bill due to him not having much money; Laforge left the area and returned several hours later after the business closed with a gas can, according to the affidavit.
Laforge went to his vehicle, started it and attempted to leave by driving into two vehicles, causing a total of $5,000 worth of damage to the vehicles. The witness attempted to stop Laforge, and he drove the vehicle straight toward the witness, he told officers. The witness fired two rounds into the ground from his Glock 43 handgun when Laforge was about 3 to 5 feet away from him, he told police.
Laforge continued to drive off and drove through a gate, damaging it and the fence to the tune of $3,000.
EPD canvassed the area and found Laforge’s vehicle at his home, less than a mile away on Citrus Avenue and found Laforge on foot near the corner of South Eustis Street and Mills Avenue, according to the affidavit.
Laforge told officers his vehicle ran out of gas at a local gas station, and he left it there to go get money. He returned and found it had been towed. He went to Bay Street Paint & Body and was given a price for the vehicle and told he could not pick it up until he paid. He left, came back with a gas can and while he was putting gas in the vehicle, someone told him he could not be on the property, and he had to leave. He told the witness, “Don’t tread on me,” and continued what he was doing, the affidavit states.
Laforge then told officers he tried to leave, and a block was thrown in front of his truck and his tire was shot. He said he drove off with it because he was not allowed to leave without paying, but then changed his story and said he meant he was never told.
Laforge was taken into custody and arrested for burglary, aggravated assault, grand theft, criminal mischief and leaving the scene of a crash. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $17,000 bond.
