EUSTIS, Florida— The man who went missing on Lake Yale Saturday afternoon still has not been found.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) began searching for the man at daybreak Sunday, FWC Public Information Officer Chad Weber told Inside Lake Sunday afternoon.
The afternoon storms hampered their efforts, but several boats were still on the water searching around 4:30 p.m., Weber said.
“We’re still continuing search and rescue efforts,” he said. Officers will continue to stay on the water unless the weather gets too bad, or lightning becomes an issue.
FWC and LCSO have been staging at Marsh Park, off County Road 452 since around 3:30 p.m. Saturday when the man was reported missing. FWC officers will be stationed at the park all night, Weber said.
FWC is not releasing what led to the man going overboard Saturday.
“Our investigators are looking into that,” Weber said.
EUSTIS, Florida—The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) are searching for a boater who went missing on Lake Yale Saturday afternoon.
Officers and deputies are searching for an adult male and it is unknown if he was wearing a life vest. Numerous boats from FWC and LCSO, along with Lake EMS have been staged at Marsh Park off County Road 452 for several hours. LCSO received the call about the missing boater from an individual who was on the same boat and LCSO notified FWC around 3:15 p.m., FWC Public Information Officer Chad Weber told Inside Lake.
“We are conducting a search and rescue effort,” Weber said.
It is early in the investigation, and it is unclear if the boat capsized or was damaged in some way, Weber said. FWC has the boat and is sending investigators out to the scene.
“Right now, we don’t know exactly what took place,” Weber said.
EUSTIS, Florida—A pair of teenagers arrested last month for several vehicle burglaries are facing more charges.
Matthew Hanners, 18, of Eustis, was arrested twice this week, first on Wednesday and again on Thursday, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.
In June, numerous neighborhoods on the east side of Eustis were hit with thieves, including, but not limited to, Blue Lake Estates, Misty Oaks, Summer Glen, Brookshire, Horizon Oaks and Hillcrest over the past few weeks, EPD Capt. Jon Fahning told Inside Lake last month.
Hanners and Casey C. Johnson, 19, of Leesburg, are accused of stealing many items, including guns, gift cards, jewelry and electronics. On June 16, the pair were arrested for several charges related to the burglaries; Hanners was released on $21,000 bond on June 21 and Johnson has been held in LCJ on $33,000 bond since the arrest.
On Wednesday, two charges were added to Johnson, armed burglary and petit theft and he was given ROR (released on his own recognizance) on the added charges, according to online jail records, but is still being held on the first set of charges. Hanners was arrested Wednesday for burglary and petit theft and was released on $6,000 bond. On Thursday, he was arrested again—this time for two counts of burglary, armed burglary, grand theft and two counts of petit theft. He is being held in LCJ on $33,000 bond. Hanners was also given ROR for two of his charges, burglary and petit theft.
Hanners’ and Johnson’s next court date is scheduled for July 11.
TAVARES, Florida—Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell has a message for those dealing drugs in Lake County…to be continued.
Announcing the largest fentanyl haul in Lake County history at a press conference Thursday, Grinnell spoke to members of the media about a 4-month operation that resulted in 27 people facing drug-related charges after detectives with multiple agencies targeted three high-level drug traffickers and their associates across the county.
Cliff “Sneak” Johnson, 40, Andrew “Smurf” Woodruff, 37, and Charles, “Cuz” Carter, 50, who have collectively been arrested 75 times for felonies, were the main targets of “Operation Sneak-A-Peek” Grinnell told reporters Thursday afternoon.
“Mr. Johnson goes by the street name, “Sneak,” and our detectives took a peek and what Mr. Sneak was up to; hence, the name of this operation,” Grinnell said.
Detectives from LCSO, Clermont Police Department, Eustis Police Department, Leesburg Police Department and Mount Dora Police Department, DEA, FBI, Homeland Security and the Fifth Circuit State Attorney’s Office investigated the trio and found that fentanyl was coming from Mexico into California and Texas and making its way to Lake County, either by shipping methods or transported by vehicle, Grinnell said.
“This was truly a team effort,” Grinnell said.
PHOTO: Bonnie Whicher/Inside Lake
Detectives traveled to Georgia and throughout Florida to crack the case, according to the sheriff.
Detectives recovered a large amount of drugs, including 3.1 pounds of fentanyl, 1.11 ounces of fentanyl pills, 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of cocaine, 1.2 ounces of crack cocaine, 5.7 ounces of heroin, 10 ounces of MDMA and 15 pounds of marijuana. Thirteen guns were recovered, three of which were stolen, in addition to $12,000 in cash, four vehicles and three pill presses. The drugs have a wholesale street value of nearly $300,000 Grinnell said.
Johnson, of Leesburg, is being held in the Sumter County Jail on no bond and is facing 23 charges, including trafficking, conspiracy to commit trafficking, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and possession of numerous different drugs; Woodruff, of Mount Dora, is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond and is facing four charges, racketeering, conspiracy to commit trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine and, unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Carter, of Leesburg, is charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine, and conspiracy to commit racketeering. He is also being held in LCJ on no bond.
The operation also revealed the suspects were dealing Isotonitazene, commonly known as ISO, a synthetic opioid that can be 20 to 100 times more potent than fentanyl, Grinnell said.
Seventeen suspects have been arrested and cops are still looking for nine more.
Grinnell had a message for those he calls “pushers of poison.”
“Operations like these save lives and put the pushers of poison behind bars. So here in Lake County, I say, to be continued.”
State Attorney Bill Gladson said some of the charges carry minimum mandatory prison sentences of at least 15 years.
Several documents in each of the suspects’ cases have been sealed and many details of the undercover operation are not available.
EUSTIS, Florida—A man who has been on the run for over a month for a shooting in an apparent feud over a woman in early May was picked up earlier this week on multiple charges stemming from the shooting.
On May 7, Eustis Police Department responded to El Sereno Apartments, 600 North Grove Street on a report of a shooting. The victim told police he was walking to his apartment when he felt like someone was behind him; he turned around and saw a man he recognized as Cameron Deon Blair, 19, pointing a gun at him. Blair fired three or four shots at the victim, and he ran to his apartment, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The victim told police he believed Blair shot at him because when the victim was in jail, Blair had an intimate relationship with the victim’s girlfriend, and he believes Blair is mad because his girlfriend is dating him and not Blair, the affidavit states.
Cameron Blair PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
EPD canvassed the area of the shooting and found two spent .380 shell casings and an impact mark was found on one of the buildings. Police were unable to locate Blair near the scene or at his home in Eustis and a warrant was issued for his arrest the same day.
He was picked up by Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies Monday on several charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, shooting into an occupied dwelling, discharging a firearm in public, improper exhibition of a firearm and two counts of failure to appear for prior charges of burglary and grand theft. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
EUSTIS, Florida—A police support coordinator accused of defrauding Eustis Police Department of $6,665 worth of gift cards, abruptly resigned and she is facing a criminal charge, according to an internal investigation obtained only by Inside Lake.
Pam Gordon, who has worked at EPD for 19 years, is alleged to have altered invoices submitted to the City of Eustis finance department to hide complimentary gift cards from a marketing company, the report states.
In early May, an EPD sergeant opened a package containing promotional materials for EPD and found an envelope containing nine $25 Amazon gift cards. The sergeant thought it was odd and reported her findings to a captain. The captain told the sergeant to contact the company to ensure the cards were not sent in error. During the call, the department’s sales representative told the sergeant the company had been sending gift cards to the police department “for years” to reward officers or recognize people for good deeds. The sergeant asked if some specific items they had in storage were from the company and the representative reportedly said, “Pam and (I) have been friends for 18 years and she would never cheat on (me,)” according to the report.
The sergeant and captain have been employed with EPD for a combined 35 years and neither had ever received any of the gift cards to give to officers they supervised, the report states. The information they found was given to the Office of Professional Standards for review.
The internal affairs investigator contacted the marketing company and the city’s finance department to request copies of the invoices submitted by Gordon so he could compare them, and he found numerous invoices were altered.
According to the report, the city provided invoices from late 2018 through January 2022 and invoices that should have contained gift cards had been altered. The investigator found that numerous gift cards were sent in $25 and $10 increments for Amazon, Bath & Body Works, Chili’s, Outback Steakhouse, Target, and Walmart. Most of the cards were in $25 increments and sometimes as many as 14 cards were sent in a package. A total of $6,665 worth of gift cards were sent to the police department since 2009.
The investigator interviewed two past police chiefs and an interim chief and none of them had knowledge of Gordon receiving the gift cards.
On June 1, the investigator informed Chief Craig Capri of his findings and Capri requested he begin an internal investigation and Gordon was placed on administrative leave. Gordon was notified of the investigation the same day and immediately said the gift cards were for her. When the investigator told Gordon how they found the gift cards, Gordon “immediately became accusatory toward (the sergeant) due to personal differences and alleging (the sergeant) won,” the report states.
Gordon was informed the investigator found invoices altered to hide the gift cards and Gordon said, “(I) altered the invoices so finance would not question the receipt of the gift cards. Can you imagine the (expletive) we would have gotten from them if they saw the gift cards?” she reportedly told the investigator.
Gordon said she used the Amazon gift cards to order things for the department, but the investigator did not find any evidence of gift cards on the department’s account. Gordon became very upset, according to the report, and resigned immediately. She initially refused to sign the notification of the investigation, but later signed it after Capri read it to her. She continued to blame the sergeant who found the gift cards in May and said she did nothing wrong; she removed some personal items from her office and left, the report states.
On June 6, the investigator spoke with the department’s sales representative, and she changed her story from what she told the sergeant in May. She told the investigator the gift cards were sent to Gordon for her to choose how to use them and the cards did not have a specific purpose. She went on to explain there is a point system where a gift card is awarded for every 900 points earned by purchasing merchandise. “This conversation is different from the conversation (she) had with (the sergeant) when (the sergeant) contacted her back in May,” the investigator noted in the report.
The investigator called her back a few minutes later and asked if she talked to Gordon; she paused and said it was the last time an order was placed, which was a while ago, according to the report.
The following day Capri contacted Gordon about not receiving a resignation letter and Gordon accused the investigator of not contacting the sales representative. Gordon said no one contacted the sales representative as of the weekend of June 4 and June 5 because she called the representative and asked if anyone spoke to her. “This is the direct opposite of what (the sales representative) had just told me the day before,” the investigator noted in the report.
The investigator concluded that Gordon had violated two department policies, conduct unbecoming and conformance to laws and he recommended termination. A probable cause affidavit for scheme to defraud was turned over to the State Attorney’s Office about two weeks ago.
“Charges have been filed,” Jonathan Olson, State Attorney’s Office felony division supervisor, told Inside Lake. Gordon was not arrested, Olson said. She was sent a summons to appear, and her arraignment is scheduled for June 27.
EUSTIS, Florida—In response to an uptick in vehicle burglaries over the last several weeks, Eustis Police Department saturated the targeted areas of the city with officers over the last week and busted three burglars and they are on the hunt for a fourth, EPD Capt. Jon Fahning told Inside Lake Friday afternoon.
Numerous neighborhoods in both EPD jurisdiction and Lake County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction in Grand Island have been hit with thieves, in addition to several neighborhoods in the city, including, but not limited to, Blue Lake Estates, Misty Oaks, Summer Glen, Brookshire, Horizon Oaks and Hillcrest over the past few weeks, Fahning said. “It’s not uncommon for the summertime,” he said.
Officers with the road patrol division and detectives with the criminal investigations division worked together to saturate areas and identify the suspects who have been captured on numerous home surveillance systems, checking for unlocked vehicle doors. Many items were taken, from dozens of vehicles, including cash and at least four guns, Fahning said. One stolen gun has been recovered.
There are several groups of thieves working the same areas and EPD does not believe the groups are connected, according to Fahning. Of the smaller groups, they believe they have arrested some of the people in two of the groups, and they are investigating a third. “There is at least one more group we are working on taking care of,” he said. `
Three of the suspected thieves were apprehended this week. On Thursday, officers responded to Brookshire on a report of suspects pulling door handles. The suspects fled upon the officers’ arrival but were apprehended after a short foot chase and identified as Casey C. Johnson, 19, of Leesburg and Matthew Nathaniel Hanners, 18, of Eustis. Detectives are working on a warrant for a third male and are not releasing his identity until he is in custody.
Johnson was arrested for a litany of charges, including, armed burglary to a conveyance, possession of a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, possession of burglary tools, false name to law enforcement, and resisting arrest. He is being held at the Lake County Jail on $33,000 bond. Hanners was arrested for principal to armed burglary, burglary and resisting arrest; he is being held at LCJ on $21,000 bond. Additional charges for both suspects are possible, Fahning said.
J’quarius Sceal, 22, was arrested Friday on several charges in connection with recent vehicle burglaries in Eustis.
On Friday, another suspect was captured when officers responded to a report of a man acting erratically with a gun on Gould Street. J’quarius Sceal, 22, of Eustis, was found with a gun stolen from a vehicle in the Hillcrest neighborhood. Sceal is suspected of more burglaries in the city, Fahning said, and more charges are pending. Sceal was arrested for grand theft of a firearm, armed burglary, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a concealed weapon and improper exhibition of a firearm. He is being held at LCJ on $41,000 bond.
EPD wants to catch all the thieves but needs the public to be more vigilant and helpful. Many victims are not reporting the crimes at all and Fahning believes there are more surveillance videos that have not been sent to the police. “Calling us immediately is very beneficial,” he said. “Some (victims) just don’t call at all and that’s a problem. We need help.” If you have information or videos related to these burglaries, call EPD at 352-357-4121.
EUSTIS, Florida—A fire inspector for Eustis Fire Department has been arrested for domestic violence, according to an arrest affidavit.
The affidavit states, on Tuesday, a member of Eustis Police Department’s command staff accessed a former employee’s computer and observed messages between the former employee and her husband, Adam John Gordon, 50, on June 5. In the messages, Gordon tells the victim he is leaving her, and she accuses him of hitting her at least 10 times and in turn, he accuses her of biting him and pushing him. The messages also included several photos of the victim that included swelling, marks on her face and dried blood covering her face, neck and shirt.
PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
EPD detectives determined there was probable cause for Gordon’s arrest and he was taken into custody at a downtown Eustis business around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $500 bond.
The victim, who still had visible injuries, was present when Gordon was arrested; she told EPD a mark on her cheek was from falling.
According to Eustis Fire Department’s Facebook page, Gordon has worked there for 16 years; Inside Lake reached out to EFD for the status of Gordon’s employment and did not get a response.
EUSTIS, Florida—A 62-year-old woman suspected of DUI caused a three-vehicle crash, fled the scene and was captured by Eustis Police after a witness followed her May 31, according to an arrest affidavit.
Elfriede Schafer Stewart is accused driving a dark-colored Porsche and rear-ending a white GMC that caused another collision with a gold Chevy shortly before 1:15 p.m. near County Road 19A and U.S. Highway 441 last Tuesday, according to the affidavit.
PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Stewart, of Eustis, fled the scene with the Porsche’s hood up obstructing her view, and a witness followed her to Eustis Plaza, less than a mile away. The witness told EPD she saw the crash and followed the Porsche into the parking lot where it almost hit another vehicle, and then parked. Stewart exited the vehicle, closed the hood and got back into the vehicle. The witness then saw Stewart open a small bottle of alcohol, took a sip and went into Hometown Market, 401 Plaza Drive. AS EPD arrived Stewart, unsteady on her feet, exited the store, according to the affidavit.
Stewart told police she did not hit a vehicle and only hit the roadway and she was taken into custody for leaving the scene of a crash. Officers searched her vehicle and found a small empty bottle of vodka, a half-empty bottle of vodka and a cup that smelled that alcohol. Stewart was taken to EPD, where she was unable to complete field sobriety exercises and she was arrested for DUI, in addition to leaving the scene of a crash.
She was transported to the Lake County Jail, where she was released on $1,500 bond.
UMATILLA, Florida—A well-known and well-loved community leader unexpectedly passed away last week.
Social media posts began flooding Facebook, just a few hours after Ray “Ray Ray” Bryant, 55, died Wednesday. Bryant, of Altoona, was the owner and sensei of Central Florida Karate in Umatilla for more than 30 years and later, Central Florida Karate 2 in Mount Dora, according to his obituary.
He impacted hundreds of children’s lives in the community through karate and founded Alee Academy in Eustis.
Katie Mansfield, of Eustis, who trained with Bryant for five years when she was a child, told Inside Lake she was devastated when she found out, “Sensei saved my life at such a young age. He brought me from the pits of hell and showed me how to keep my head on straight and protect myself,” she said. “I will forever be grateful for the life lessons he taught me. There are not enough words to express my gratitude and the countless memories I have inside his dojo. He will forever be missed.”
Katie Mansfield, right, trained with Ray Bryant Jr. for five years. PHOTO: Submitted
Bryant was a state, national and world kickboxing champion and was an ambassador and U.S. coach for the International Sport Kickboxing Association, a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the Lake County Airboat Club.
Bryant loved the outdoors and volunteered with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team since 2007, LCSO Sgt. Matt Farner told Inside Lake. Farner, who is the sergeant in the Agriculture and Marine Unit said Bryant was a critical component to the Search and Rescue Team and volunteered his time, equipment and gas to the rescue efforts.
”Ray was an asset and very valuable to the community,” Farner said. “He was our go-to guy and was always willing to donate his time.”
Bryant and his father, Ray Bryant Sr., both volunteered before their passings, “They really were our main guys,” Farner said.
Bryant most recently helped in the search and rescue of Davidson Anjab, 39, who went missing during a canoe trip at Alexander Springs in April. Anjab was found safe after two days of searching.
“It (his passing) was shock to all of us,” Farner said. “He was a huge asset and a friend. We all loved the guy.”
Bryant is survived by his wife, Catherine “Mouse” Millner; three sons, Dalton, Dakota and Doron; his daughter, Madeline; his brother, George; his aunt, Jennie Louer; his nephew, Cody and his niece, Bella.
A celebration of life is scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Bryant Compound, 45445 State Road 19, Altoona. Harden/Pauli Funeral Home in Eustis is handling the arrangements.
