UMATILLA, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has made one in arrest in the attempted murder of a security guard during an armed robbery earlier this week.
Travontae Shavar Harley, 33, of Mount Dora is accused of entering Hot Spot, 37415 State Road 19, Umatilla shortly before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with an unidentified black male. The security guard of the internet gaming location, commonly known as “fish games” immediately engaged the pair and the security guard was shot. He was airlifted to a local hospital and his condition is unknown.
The pair of robbers fled the scene in a dark-colored pickup truck and were not apprehended.
According to an arrest affidavit, another internet gaming location was robbed recently, and a phone was found in the path of the robbers’ getaway vehicle. A data extraction was performed on the phone that revealed images of cards belonging to Harley, along with the owner account name similar to Harley’s social media accounts.
Travontae Harley PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
LCSO Street Crimes Unit pulled over a 2020 Nissan Frontier Friday and Harley was taken into custody. A receipt to a gas station was found and surveillance video showed Harley and another black male entering the parking lot of a gas station in a black Frontier about three hours before the shooting. The pair is seen walking into the store wearing pants and shoes that matched the robbers, according to the affidavit.
Harley was taken into custody and arrested for attempted murder while engaged in a robbery, armed robbery, false name to law enforcement, possession of amphetamine and two counts of violation of probation for stalking and criminal mischief. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
LCSO is still searching for the second subject, if you have information, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
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.
DONA VISTA, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two black males who shot a security guard during an attempted robbery at an internet gaming location Wednesday night, according to newly-released information.
Two black males entered Hot Spot, 37415 State Road 19, Eustis around 6:30 p.m. and fired an undisclosed number of shots, striking the security guard, LCSO Lt. Fred Jones said. The victim was airlifted to a local hospital; his condition is unknown at this time.
The pair of would-be robbers, described only as black males, fled the scene have not been apprehended.
LCSO, Eustis Police Department, Umatilla Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol all responded to the scene and set a perimeter up; officers from several agencies were posted on State Road 19 and County Road 19A near the scene, following the shooting.
Numerous arrests, including minor drug possession and trafficking, have been made in the area in the last several months and many suspects told EPD officers they were leaving Hot Spot, commonly known as fish games. Hot Spot is located just outside of Eustis’ city limits.
The investigation is ongoing, if you have information call Crimeline, 1-800-423-TIPS.
LCSO released 911 calls made after the shooting of a security guard Wednesday night.L
TAVARES, Florida—A man who has been arrested numerous times in Orange and Lake counties since 2019, but never convicted, turned himself in at the Lake County Jail on a warrant for felony battery, according to an arrest affidavit.
Emmanuel Cazeau, 38, of Eustis, is accused of attacking a man on Fern Avenue in Tavares July 18 on the front porch of his home.
Two days prior, Tavares Police Department responded to the man’s home on a report of an attempted robbery. That night, the victim told police two black males knocked on his door and put a gun to his head. They began shouting that the victim’s housemate owed them money. The victim and one of the suspects struggled over the gun and the men fled the scene. The housemate told police she did not owe anyone money, the affidavit states.
The victim told TPD that the house he and his wife were living in was a “known drug house” and this was the “last straw”; and they were moving out in the morning. The couple left and stayed at a motel.
On July 18, the couple returned to the home and kicked their housemate out, the victim told police. He went on to say he believed the housemate was the “mastermind” behind the attempted robbery because she owed someone money. The victim said he and his wife were tired of living in the motel and returned. A short time later he was attacked on his porch by a man he knew as “Pete.” “Pete” was later identified as Cazeau. The victim’s wife confirmed Cazeau was not one of the men who attempted to rob her husband on July 16, according to the affidavit.
A warrant for battery was issued for Cazeau’s arrest July 21. He turned himself in Tuesday and was released the same day on $5,000 bond.
Cazeau has been charged with a litany of felonies since 2019, including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash with death in Orange County and battery on a pregnant female, child endangerment, witness tampering and trafficking charges in Lake County. In one case more than 35 ounces of methamphetamine was found in a bag in a vehicle Cazeau was driving. All the charges in both counties have since been dropped.
DONA VISTA, Florida—One person was shot Wednesday night during an attempted robbery at a popular internet gaming location, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Fred Jones.
A black male entered Hot Spot, 37415 State Road 19, Eustis around 6:30 p.m. and fired an undisclosed number of shots, striking one person, Jones said. The victim was airlifted to a local hospital.
The suspect was not apprehended.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Eustis Police officers set up a perimeter following an attempted robbery and shooting Wednesday night. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
LCSO, Eustis Police Department, Umatilla Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol all responded and a perimeter was set up; officers from several agencies were posted on State Road 19 and County Road 19A near the scene.
EPD has made numerous firearms and drug arrests, including minor possession and trafficking, of individuals who told officers they were leaving Hot Spot, commonly known as fish games. Several people who live nearby, and asked not to be named, said the location should be shut down because of the type of people it attracts.
The investigation into the attempted robbery and shooting is ongoing, if you have information call Crimeline, 1-800-423-TIPS.
TAVARES, Florida—A Lake County Sheriff’s Office sergeant arrested last month for soliciting prostitution paid the person $80 per encounter, according to a probable cause affidavit unsealed by County Judge Sarah Jones earlier this month.
LCSO was tipped off to Sgt. Scott Stone’s activities by a woman who told an LCSO captain and a detective her friend of four years confided in her that a “Sgt. Stone” with LCSO was paying the friend to have sex with him in public places. The friend is not named in the affidavit and is referred to as he/she or “the source” throughout the affidavit. Inside Lake will be referring to this person as “the source” for the remainder of this article.
After conducting surveillance on the source, the captain and detective approached the source at a store and conducted an interview. The source said the pair met on a domestic dispute call and exchanged numbers in June 2021. Within two days Stone sent the source a photo of him standing in front of a mirror completely nude, according to the affidavit.
The source did not send a return photo and said about a day later Stone contacted the source to hang out. The source agreed and Stone picked the source up in his personal vehicle. Stone asked the source if they were interested in sex and the source agreed. The source asked where at Stone reportedly replied Home Depot and they stopped at Circle K at the corner of County Road 44 and County Road 473 and Stone made a withdrawal from the ATM.
The couple went to Home Depot and proceeded to have unprotected oral sex and intercourse, according to the affidavit. Stone then paid the source $80.
In January Stone again contacted the source and the pair met at Walgreens, 11101 U.S. Highway 441 and attempted intercourse. Again, Stone paid $80. Later in January, Stone met the source at an abandoned home in Leesburg while on duty; the home was outside his assigned sector. The source said Stone was in full uniform and parked his marked patrol unit behind the home. The pair touched each other, and Stone did not remove his uniform, and told the source he was nervous because he was on duty.
Stone was interviewed in late April and admitted having sex with the source but denied paying for it. He was asked if he had phone conversations with any known criminals or prostitutes and he reportedly said, “to his knowledge nothing he wouldn’t be afraid Jesus would see.” Investigators found text messages between Stone and the source.
Stone: When is the last time you had sex?
Source: Last night.
Stone: That’s really hot!! For pay?
Source: I have not showered yet but was gonna bath (sic) but I can wait just for you.
Source: Yes.
Source: I have bills.
Stone: Ugh. That’s SO SO HOT!!
A warrant was issued for Stone’s arrest in July and Stone, a 17-year veteran of LCSO turned himself in to the Lake County Jail, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said in a press release last month. He was released from LCJ on $1,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 12.
Stone is currently under internal investigation and is suspended without pay, LCSO Lt. Fred Jones said.
TAVARES, Florida—Two men facing numerous charges for robbing three stores in Lake County have now been charged with robbing one more.
Dustin “Chico” Perdue, 27, of Tavares and Patrick “YG” Brown, 22, were arrested early Aug. 5 after an Astatula traffic stop led to evidence in a robbery of a Clermont gas station just 23 minutes before the stop.
They now stand accused of robbing Golden Ox Liquors 305 East Burleigh Boulevard, Tavares around 10 p.m. June 30. Perdue and Brown are accused of approaching the cash register, pointing guns at the victim and demanding money. The victim complied and the robbers grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash and tried to flee through the Golden Ox Bar that was filled with patrons. They realized their mistake and fled through the front door, according to a report.
Patrick Brown, left; Dustin Perdue PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Perdue and Brown have been charged in four robberies, including stores Clermont, Mount Dora, unincorporated Mount Dora and Tavares. They are being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
Perdue is also suspected of murdering Alejandro “Alex” Garcia at Caroline Court Apartments in Tavares on April 8.
EUSTIS, Florida—A man who neighbors say has been standing at his doorway masturbating multiple times a week for six months, was arrested for exposure of sexual organs Saturday, according to an arrest affidavit.
Friday, a neighbor told Eustis Police Department, he has witnessed Mark Ronald Banks, 53, standing at his doorway naked, masturbating while facing Glover Street on numerous occasions. The neighbor explained he has observed Banks masturbating naked two to three times a week at 7 a.m. for the past six months, the affidavit states.
A maintenance man for the apartment complex nearby Banks’ home told police he installed a fence panel to try to block Banks from view and the maintenance man said while he had never seen Banks masturbate, he had seen him stand naked in his doorway several times a week, according to the affidavit.
On Saturday, EPD officers attempted to talk to Banks at his home and he was not there, according to the affidavit. A neighbor tipped officers to Banks’ location and officers found him at the front of a nearby store. An officer explained there were some complaints about his sexual behavior, and he immediately said, “I don’t do that,” the affidavit states. He appeared nervous and again said, “I don’t do that.” He was questioned about both standing at his door naked and masturbating and repeated, “I don’t do that.”
Banks was arrested for exposure of sexual organs and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $1,000 bond.
EUSTIS, Florida—Eustis Middle and Eustis High school students will see some new faces this school year, as Eustis Police officers take over the role of school resource officers from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
EPD Chief Craig Capri, who has been chief a little more than a year, said it was important to him to have EPD officers in the schools. “I want our own officers in our own schools. One of the most important things is protecting our children from evil. We will engage all threats immediately,” he told Inside Lake
Capri said having his officers at EMS and EHS’ two campuses will allow his officers to build relationships with residents at an early age, which enhances trust between the community and the police department. Capri and his officers have been heavily involved in the community since he became chief, hosting numerous events including Pizza with the Police, Cookies with a Cop, and several bicycle rides.
The SRO unit will be supervised by Capt. Dave Carney, Sr. Officer David Perez will be at EMS, Sr. Officer JT Allred will be at EHS Curtwright Campus and Officer Marica Freitas will be at EHS Main Campus; Officer John Koller and Officer Cambry Herrero will serve as alternates, Capri said.
We asked the new SROs a few questions earlier this week.
Sr. Officer David Perez, Eustis Middle School
Perez is a 6-year veteran of EPD and is excited about his new role as an SRO. He told Inside Lake he is ready for any challenge that comes his way.
PHOTO: Bonnie Whicher/Inside Lake
Why did you choose to become an SRO? I became a school resource officer because I want to be a mentor for our future adult generation. Some children need a role model to look up to and I am willing to step in to provide that direction for them.
What do you want the kids to know about you? I am here for them if they need anything. I have an open door and welcome them to stop in anytime.
Do you think your presence in the schools will enhance community trust and why? I greatly think having officers in the schools enhances community trust. I believe having armed security in schools creates a peace of mind for many parents.
With the recent school shootings, safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Have you participated in active shooter training and safety drills? How does this training prepare you for the worst possible scenario? During the summer months, all officers of the Eustis Police Department participated in many trainings and safety drills regarding school safety. These trainings have helped prepare all of us for worst case scenarios. We are not afraid to go in and protect our children if it comes down to it.
What do you hope to accomplish as an SRO? I hope to establish relationships with the children at Eustis Middle School and create a positive rapport. I also hope to change perspective in the children’s minds regarding the views of police officers as most of the children may only know what they hear or see in the media.
Sr. Officer JT Allred, Eustis High School Curtright Campus
Allred has been with EPD for more than five years and is the Team Leader for the EPD SWAT Team. Allred is looking forward to being an SRO and thinks it is vital for an SRO to be active in their school.
PHOTO: Bonnie Whicher/Inside Lake
Why did you choose to become an SRO? I have children who are in school, and I know what it is like to wonder if they are safe. I chose to become an SRO because it is my way of giving back to the community. It’s my way of ensuring the generations of tomorrow have a safe place to get an education and effect positive change in their community.
What do you want the kids to know about you? My door is always open; I am not here to make life hard or make kids hate coming to school. I’m here to ensure they are safe and have a safe place to learn. I will make it my mission day in and day out to keep them out of harm’s way. I will always be there to listen and give you advice, if it’s wanted. I am one of the good guys, and together we will make it a fun school year.
Do you think your presence in the schools will enhance community trust and why? Absolutely, I am the face the kid will see. When the kids come home and talk about “their” SRO and our positive influence on them, it lays the foundation of trust. Through events at the school and getting to know all the kids, they will learn we are someone they can trust and depend on.
With the recent school shootings, safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Have you participated in active shooter training and safety drills? How does this training prepare you for the worst possible scenario? I am one of the Active Threat instructors at the police department. I went through Active Threat instructor school in January of this year, offered through F.L.E.T.C. (Federal Law Enforcement Training Commission.) Having this training and being on the SWAT team, I feel I have a hand up on the response and neutralization of an active assailant.
What do you hope to accomplish as an SRO? Build rapport with all students, and show them I’m a friendly guy and very approachable. Make sure I am available anytime a student needs to talk and make it a fun and educational school year
Officer Marcia Freitas, Eustis High School
Freitas is a two-year veteran of EPD and said she is grateful for this new opportunity. She is looking forward to developing trusting relationships with students and staff members.
Courtesy photo
Why did you choose to become an SRO? This is an amazing opportunity to get more involved with the community and to show our human side. There is more to “us” than just a badge and a gun, there’s a whole lot more to our job than just chasing bad guys.
What do you want the kids to know about you? I chose this career path to help people, and I will never stop! I will always be true to our law enforcement code of ethics.
My fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service.I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession . . .law enforcement.
Do you think your presence in the schools will enhance community trust and why? Absolutely. My marked patrol vehicle is the external deterrent to trouble, my presence and involvement inside the school is what works to keep threats from within occurring.
With the recent school shootings, safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Have you participated in active shooter training and safety drills? How does this training prepare you for the worst possible scenario? Yes, as an officer we are constantly learning new and better techniques, that way we are prepared for any challenges we may encounter.
What do you hope to accomplish as an SRO? I hope to build relationship with students and staff by being congenial, visible and accessible.
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