Clermont

PHOTO: Montrose Street Market

Minneola Man Captured on Video Stealing from Several Downtown Clermont Businesses

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Minneola / By

CLERMONT, Florida—A Minneola man is behind bars after video surveillance captured him stealing from several businesses at the Montrose Street Market early Monday.

Clermont Police responded to 793 West Montrose Street after the victim reported his security cameras caught a man, later identified as Michael Jacob Mathis, 21, entering the business around 2:30 a.m. through a door that was accidentally left unlocked by a cleaner, according to an arrest affidavit.

Mathis, wearing a white hoodie and dark pants, did not cover his face or wear gloves as he made his way through the market, which houses several vendors. He stole multiple items, including two iPhones, one from Design Sushi and a second one from Brave Burger; he also stole a tip jar from Brave Burger that contained approximately $10. He stole 50 cents from The Tasty Crepes and dropped a soda can, he then grabbed a drink and a tip jar that contained $70 from Pico Bistro, the affidavit states.

The video also showed Mathis wearing “very noticeable” tan work boots and carrying a black bag with a red stripe during his crime spree.

Later the same day, the complainant’s assistant reported seeing Mathis walking down Lake Minneola Shores Road in Minneola wearing the same boots and carrying the same bag, according to the affidavit. Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped Mathis and upon running his name, they found he had a Marion County warrant for failure to appear for petit theft.

Mathis was searched and he was found with a small bag of methamphetamine, a glass pipe with residue, a cut straw and several small baggies that contained residue; he also had a small bag of marijuana, according to the affidavit.

Mathis denied being in the market but was found with the phone the belonged to Design Sushi and $72 in small denominations that would be consistent with cash in a tip jar. Mathis was arrested for burglary, four counts of petit theft, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. His bond on those charges is $18,000 but he is being held on a detainer for the Marion County warrant.

Minneola Man Captured on Video Stealing from Several Downtown Clermont Businesses Read More »

“Bad Choice” and Lake County Arrest Leads to Orange County Deputy’s Termination

Clermont, Groveland, Inside Scoop / By

GROVELAND, Florida—An Orange County deputy sheriff has been fired after getting arrested by a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy Wednesday.

Juan Alberto Morales-Padilla, 44, of Groveland, was arrested after fleeing an LCSO deputy when the deputy attempted to stop him on his yellow motorcycle on State Road 50 in Clermont, around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to an arrest affidavit.

The deputy was behind the motorcycle when it passed a vehicle in the median and the deputy attempted a traffic stop. Padilla failed to slow down, and the deputy activated his sirens and Morales-Padilla turned around and looked at him and sped off, he noted in the affidavit.

The deputy went to Morales-Padilla’s home in Groveland, knocked on his door several times and finally went around to the back of the home where he could see Padilla standing by a door with a phone in his hand. Padilla, who was wearing the same clothes, walked to the rear of the home and the deputy shined his flashlight on him. Morales-Padilla reportedly waved at the deputy and walked down a hallway, emerging soon after with different clothes on, according to the affidavit.

Morales-Padilla then opened the front door, came outside and began actively resisting a second deputy. He was secured and as they walked to a patrol unit, an LCSO deputy asked Morales-Padilla if he was a law enforcement officer.

“You wanna run?”

“Yeah”

“Seriously? Are you a cop? Are you a cop?

“I, uh, yeah.”

“Yes? So, you know better.”

Morales-Padilla also told deputies he made a “bad choice.” He was arrested for fleeing and eluding  and resisting arrest without violence. He was later released from the Lake County Jail on $3,000 bond.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina PHOTO: Orange County Sheriff’s Office

Orange County Sheriff John Mina fired Morales-Padilla, who worked for OCSO for less than one year.

“These are serious allegations, and I have been clear that there will be no tolerance for criminal behavior involving deputies,” Mina said in a statement. “At the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, we hold our deputies to the highest ethical standards whether they are on duty or off duty.”

“Bad Choice” and Lake County Arrest Leads to Orange County Deputy’s Termination Read More »

PHOTO: Florida Highway Patrol

Pickup Truck Hits Tractor-Trailer and Asphalt Truck Head-on Friday Morning, Killing 3 Mascotte Residents

Clermont, Groveland, Inside Scoop, Mascotte, Unincorporated Lake / By

CLERMONT, Florida—Three Mascotte residents were killed early Friday morning after the pickup truck they were in struck a tractor-trailer and an asphalt truck head-on, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A 21-year-old woman was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado southbound on State Road 33 near Bakers Lane shortly after 5:30 a.m., when it entered the northbound lane and struck a 1999 Freightliner tractor-trailer head-on, causing the tractor-trailer to run off the road and overturn on its right side, FHP Trooper Migdalisis Garcia said.

The Silverado continued to travel in the northbound lane and struck a 2018 Kenworth asphalt truck head-on, causing the asphalt truck to leave the roadway, collide with trees and overturn on its right side.   

The driver of the Silverado and her passengers, a 50-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man, all of Mascotte, were pronounced deceased on the scene. None of the occupants of the Silverado were wearing a seatbelt, according to Garcia.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 57-year- Kissimmee man and the driver of the asphalt truck, a 53-year-old man of Wimauma, Illinois suffered minor injuries and were transported to Orlando Health South Lake Hospital in Clermont. Lake County Fire Rescue and Groveland Fire Department also responded to the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

Pickup Truck Hits Tractor-Trailer and Asphalt Truck Head-on Friday Morning, Killing 3 Mascotte Residents Read More »

SR 33 Crash Kills 3 Early Friday Morning

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

CLERMONT, Florida—The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that killed three people early Friday morning.

The crash occurred at 5:36 a.m. at State Road 33 and Bakers Lane in unincorporated Clermont and involved an overturned asphalt truck; Lake County Fire Rescue has confirmed three fatalities on the scene, according to FHP Trooper Migdalisis Garcia.

“There is currently roadblock in the area,” Garcia said in an email.

This is a developing story.

SR 33 Crash Kills 3 Early Friday Morning Read More »

PHOTO: Clermont Police Department

Clermont Man Arrested for DUI Following Head-On Collision

Clermont, Inside Scoop / By

CLERMONT, Florida—A man involved in a head-on crash at a busy intersection Saturday refused to participate in field sobriety exercises and was arrested for DUI, according to an arrest affidavit.

Clermont Police Department responded to the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and Hammock Ridge Road around 8:30 p.m. Saturday on a report of a head-on collision and spoke to Adrian Sanchez, 42, of Clermont.

Sanchez told police he was driving a silver Hyundai involved in the crash, but refused to speak with CPD any further, the affidavit states. Sanchez, who had his niece in the vehicle with him, had glassy eyes and his breath smelled of alcohol, the arresting officer noted. His niece’s age was not listed in the affidavit.

Sanchez was transported to South Lake Hospital by Lake EMS and refused to participate in field sobriety exercises and also refused to give a breath sample, according to the affidavit. He was later arrested for DUI with property damage and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $2,000 bond.

Clermont Man Arrested for DUI Following Head-On Collision Read More »

Clermont Man Accused of Exposing Himself to Teen Last Year Turns Himself In

Clermont, Inside Scoop / By

CLERMONT, Florida—A man accused of exposing himself to a teenager last year when she dropped off a food delivery turned himself in on a warrant Thursday.

Last May, a 17-year-old girl was helping her mom deliver food for a delivery service when they went to an apartment at Sundance at Clermont Apartments on Johns Lake Road. The girl went upstairs to deliver an order to a customer named “Cody,” according to a probable cause affidavit.

The man, later identified as Cody Ray Baker, 28, opened the door and took the food from the girl and she noticed his penis sticking out of his pants. The girl got scared and ran downstairs to her mother and a few minutes later “Cody” sent a message through the delivery app that stated, “yo you’re cute lol,“ the affidavit states.

The teen’s mom contacted Clermont Police Department and the teen provided a description of the man and officers went to Baker’s apartment attempted to speak with him, but no one answered to the door, according to the affidavit.

CPD located a photo of Baker and later, during a photo lineup, the girl stated two of the photos looked similar to the suspect, but she was unable to positively identify him. CPD made several more attempts to speak with Baker in person and obtained a phone number for Baker. When CPD called the number, an officer asked if she was speaking with Baker and he said, “yes,” and then hung up when she identified herself. Baker then blocked her number.

A warrant was issued for Baker’s arrest July 10, 2022, for exposure of sexual organs and he turned himself in at the Lake County Jail Thursday. He was released a little more than three hours later on $1,000 bond.

Clermont Man Accused of Exposing Himself to Teen Last Year Turns Himself In Read More »

PHOTO: Shannon Cook

Fourth Annual Lake County Back the Blue Walk Scheduled for Saturday

Around the County, Astatula, Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Florida—Law enforcement and supporters will join forces for the fourth annual Lake County Back the Blue Walk at Wooton Park Saturday morning.

Scheduled for 9 a.m., this is one of many law enforcement events around Lake County held in May during Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. In its fourth year, the walk began in 2019 to show support for law enforcement during a time when the “defund the police” movement was making its way across the country, event organizer Shannon Cook told Inside Lake. Representatives from several law enforcement agencies and numerous public officials are expected to be in attendance.

“The good ones needed to know they were appreciated,” Cook said.

Cook has always had respect for law enforcement officers and the job they do, she said. Her close friend, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Wayne Koester, was killed in the line of duty Feb. 9, 2005. Koester, who was 33 at the time, and two other deputies were ambushed while responding to a domestic violence call. All three deputies were shot, and Koester succumbed to his injuries; the other two deputies recovered. Jason Wheeler was shot and paralyzed during his capture and convicted in Koester’s death. Cook was also close to Chris Daniels, who was serving as Lake County Sheriff when he was tragically killed in a charity bus race in 2006 on his birthday.

Shannon Cook shows off one of the many gifts she has for the law enforcement officers who attend the walk Saturday. PHOTO: Shannon Cook

Cook told Inside Lake it is important the community show its support for all of the good officers and those who were lost in the line of duty. Usually a one-woman show, Cook has some help this year from Wayne Koester’s brother, Victor Koester, Jolie Fowler, owner of The Car Doctor Automotive Specialist Inc., in Eustis, Lt. Kristin Thompson of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Nina Rosania, who is very active in the community, especially in her efforts helping out small businesses in Lake County.

Participants will meet a 9 a.m. at Wooton Park, 100 East Ruby Street, Tavares. The first stop will be the Lake County Administration Building, then a stop at the Tavares Public Safety Complex and the walk will end at Kalua Beach Bar with lunch. Donuts will be provided before the walk by Lake Tire & Auto in Tavares, and a hot dog lunch will be available at Kalua Beach Bar, provided by the restaurant and Duct-Man Mechanical LLC in Eustis.

Fourth Annual Lake County Back the Blue Walk Scheduled for Saturday Read More »

Clermont Man Wins Big on Scratch-Off Ticket

Clermont, Inside Scoop / By

CLERMONT, Florida—A Clermont man claimed a $1 million prize from a winning scratch-off ticket, the Florida Lottery announced Tuesday.

John McPherson, 38, bought his $50 winning ticket, 500X THE CASH at Publix, 4351 South U.S. Highway 27, Clermont and chose to take his winnings in a one-time, lump sum payment of $820,000, the Florida Lottery said. The Publix location will receive $2,000 bonus commission for selling the ticket.

This is the fourth $1 million dollar winning scratch-off ticked purchased in Lake County this year.

Lucky Streak: For the Third Month in a Row, Lake County Resident Claims $1 Million Lottery Prize
Another $1 Million Scratch-Off Ticket Sold in Lake County
$1 Million Winning Scratch-Off Ticket Purchased in Leesburg

Clermont Man Wins Big on Scratch-Off Ticket Read More »

Dry Conditions Force Countywide Burn Ban

Astatula, Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

LAKE COUNTY, Florida—Lake County officials imposed a burn ban effective Friday that will last indefinitely, according to a press release.

The burn ban is in effect for all of Lake County and prohibits the burning of yard debris, land and recreational fires but does not include outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills and barbecue pits that have a total fuel area of 3 feet or less and 2 feet or less in height.

Dry conditions forced the move by county officials and surrounding counties have enacted similar bans. For more than three weeks, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) rating has exceeded 500 and the ban is necessary for public safety, the press release stated.

When the KDBI rating falls below 500 for seven consecutive days, the county will lift the ban.

Dry Conditions Force Countywide Burn Ban Read More »

PHOTO: Florida Highway Patrol

Early Morning Clermont Head-on Collision Kills Man, 35

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

CLERMONT, Florida—A Miami Beach man was killed when the SUV he was driving crashed head-on into an RV early Sunday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 35-year-old man was driving a grey Mitsubishi SUV westbound on County Road 474 when he made a wide right turn on State Road 33, and crossed the center line, striking an RV head-on in unincorporated Clermont just after 3 a.m. Sunday, FHP Lt. Channing Taylor said in a press release.

The Miami Beach man was pronounced dead on the scene by Lake County Fire Rescue, Taylor said. The driver of the RV, a 51-year-old man, and his passengers, a 54-year-old man, and a 48-year-old woman, all of Auburndale, suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital.

Early Morning Clermont Head-on Collision Kills Man, 35 Read More »

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