Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri shared photos exclusively with Inside Lake from the 9/11 memorial bicycle ride with Tour De Force NY from Boston to New York City to honor those lost Sept. 11, 2001. These photos are from his second leg of the trip; he traveled 84 miles from Warwick, Rhode Island to Foxwoods, Connecticut.
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri Tour De Force NY 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride: Day 2 Read More »
EUSTIS, Florida— Honoring his fallen brothers and sisters in blue is something that is close to Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri’s heart and on Saturday he will ride his bicycle with Tour de Force from Boston to New York City to pay his respects to the nearly 3,000 people lost in the terrorist attacks two decades ago.
Capri, an avid cyclist, joined the group nine years ago and has participated in numerous rides, he told Inside Lake. “It raises awareness for (law enforcement officers) killed in the line of duty.”
Along with increasing awareness, the nonprofit organization also raises money for families of officers killed on the job, Capri said. Since its inception, Tour de Force has raised more than half a million dollars.
Tour de Force began in 2002, just one year after the attacks, when retired New York City Police Department Det. Robert De Paolis rode his bike from the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia to Ground Zero, joined by seven members of the NYPD and a member of the Bronx District Attorney’s Office to raise money for fallen officers and never forget 9/11. Four volunteers followed behind the cyclists to ensure their safety, according to the group’s website. In 19 years, the group has grown to more than 250 riders that includes law enforcement officers, firefighters, military personnel and civilians, Capri said. The cyclists are backed up by 40 support personnel with box trucks, vehicles and certified EMTs; due to the complexity of the event, each ride takes nearly 11 months to plan. Participants will consume around 200 cases of water, 125 cases of sports drinks and 120 pizzas, along with fresh fruits and sweets.
Capri and his fellow cyclists are scheduled to be escorted out of Boston on Saturday and will ride to Manhattan, where they will be greeted by additional first responder escorts and pay their respects to those lost.
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri To Honor His Fallen Brothers And Sisters On Sept. 11th Read More »
The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.
EUSTIS, Florida — Two toddlers were found in a home with “deplorable” conditions and nearly a dozen people were hauled off to jail after a search warrant was executed Friday following a weeks-long narcotics investigation, said Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri.
Eustis Police Department executed the warrant at 221 North Mary Street early Friday morning after receiving complaints about drug activity at the home that is less than 450 feet from a faith-based school.
“We had several complaints of drug activity in the area. This house is the nuisance house in the neighborhood,” Capri told Lake Legal News.
Multiple people were found in the home that was littered with garbage both inside and out, including Tiffany Micheala Collins, 29; Garrett Stephon Dixon, 29 and Christopher Lewis Dixon, 35. The trio was found in a room with two toddlers and multiple drugs. They were each charged with two counts of child neglect, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of THC oil and possession of drug paraphernalia. They are being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond. Collins was also arrested on a warrant for failure to appear and violation of probation. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) was notified of the incident, Capri said.
The owner of the home, George Michael Vacherlon, 49, was arrested for maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of drug use, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in LCJ on $7,000 bond. Isaiah Scott Kohler, 23, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia; he is being held in LCJ on $5,000 bond. Stephanie Erin Bennett, 41, James “Pete” Fryer, 41, Rolando Trevino, 29 and Stefanie Carol Levan, 28, were each charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. They are being held in LCJ on $3,000 bond. Robert Eugene Rensel, 53, and Crystal Louise Bowman, 28, were both charged with possession of fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia; they are each being held on $3,000 bond.
Capri told LLN this home— known for drug activity— was a safety issue and affecting the quality of life for neighboring homes and businesses. “We have zero tolerance for drug activity in the City of Eustis.”
The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.
EUSTIS, Florida — Dozens of children rode their bikes from Eustis Police Department with Chief Craig Capri and spent the afternoon with him and visited several vendors in downtown Eustis’ Ferran Park Thursday.
The “Bike Ride with the Eustis Police Chief,” started at EPD with about three dozen bike riders and the crowd of kids grew to nearly 50 in Ferran Park, visiting vendors, and hanging out with law enforcement officers from three agencies, including EPD, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Fruitland Park Police Department.
“I consider it a huge success,’ Capri told Lake Legal News.
Capri, who has been chief less than two months, and his team put the event together quickly because he wanted to do something before the school year ended, he said. He stressed the value of engaging with community, especially the youth and plans on continuing this event annually. “I think it’s important,” he said.
Elementary-aged children met Capri at EPD with their bikes and the group traveled down Eustis Street to Magnolia Avenue and crossed over Bay Street while Cpl. L. Brown stopped traffic for their entrance into Ferran Park.
Capri had a wide smile and the boys and girls cheered as they entered the park with Capt. G. Winheim and his wife at the rear of the pack. The kids parked their bikes and went from tent to tent where they received goodies and information. Children had the opportunity to be properly fitted for a bicycle helmet by certified employees of LCSO and EPD. An eight-hour class taught by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is required for certification and the helmets are provided by an FDOT grant, EPD employee Lacee Ryan told LLN.
United Southern Bank, The Early Learning Coalition of Lake County, Pure Cycle, Lakeside Dental and Eustis Parks & Recreation were also on hand giving out information and goodies.
Nine-year-old Devin, who was excited to wear his neon orange shorts to the bike ride, said his favorite part was riding his bike with the chief. Devin will be a fifth grader at Eustis Elementary School next year.
Bike Ride With Eustis Police Chief A Success Read More »
The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.
EUSTIS, Florida — The community came in force Friday for Eustis Police Department’s “Tip a Cop” to benefit an EPD event scheduled for Thursday.
Chief Craig Capri, along with Captains G. Winheim and K. Toler, Sgt. B. Jenkins, Cpl. L. Brown and Officers J. Allred, D. Perez and M. Freitas worked the lunch rush at Tillie’s Tavern & Grill, 12 E. Magnolia Street to raise money for “Bike Ride with the Eustis Police Chief” scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
The money raised Friday will benefit Thursday’s event; elementary aged children are invited to meet Capri at Eustis Police Department at 3:30 p.m. with their bicycles and take a ride with him down to Ferran Park where they can visit different vendors and get properly fitted for a bicycle helmet, Allred said. Children without bicycles are also welcome to attend, EPD asks they meet at Ferran Park.
The officers put in work taking orders, running food and even bussing tables while shadowing a Tillie’s waitress. Most customers tipped the police officers and their waitress and at the end of the event, each of the five waitresses donated their own tips to the cops, Tillie’s Tavern & Grill District Manager Tanya Catoe said.
Catoe said it was an easy decision to help the cause when Allred approached them earlier this month. “He came to us with the idea, and we said, absolutely,” she told Lake Legal News.
More than $1,100 was raised Friday, with several $100 bills dropped in the tip bucket the officers took turns carrying around. Many people well-known around Eustis were in attendance, including City Manager Ron Neibert and City Commissioners Willie Hawkins and Nan Cobb — the city’s two newest commissioners.
Eustis “Tip A Cop” Drops $1,100 In The Bucket Read More »
The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.
EUSTIS, Florida — Eustis Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred on Kensington Street Tuesday night.
A man suffered two gunshot wounds around 6:20 p.m. and his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, EPD Chief Craig Capri told Lake Legal News. He was transported to Central Florida Regional Hospital for treatment.
“It looks like the victim is going to pull through,” Capri said.
EPD has developed information the shooting may be a part of an ongoing dispute with another man. Capri (who was on scene of the shooting), said he was comfortable EPD would have a suspect in custody soon. Police spoke with the victim briefly and expect him to cooperate after he receives medical treatment, Capri said. A witness to the shooting is also cooperating with investigators.
This is the first shooting in Eustis in 2021; in 2020 several shootings took place including a shooting at the city’s Light-Up Eustis event in November. A woman, who was not the intended target, was shot in the arm by a stray bullet shortly after the event officially ended. Seventeen-year-old Brycen Williams was later arrested for that shooting.
If you have information on Tuesday night’s shooting, call EPD at 352-357-4121.
The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.
EUSTIS, Florida — An unemployed Umatilla man scammed two local car dealerships with nearly $70,000 of worthless checks, and attempted to scam two more, according to a probable cause affidavit.
On April 16, Eustis Police Department responded to Advantage Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM, 18311 U.S. Highway 441 on a report of fraud. The general manager told police Prestin Scott Carroll, 19, purchased a 2021 Jeep Wrangler with a check written for $48,940.35 four days earlier. The check was returned the next day for insufficient funds; the manager contacted the bank and found the account the check was written on had been closed.
The responding officer called Carroll and Carroll told him he purchased the Jeep with an insurance settlement from a previous crash and did not know why the bank failed to honor the check. The manager requested Carroll bring in a cashier’s check or return the Jeep by the end of the day and Carroll agreed, according to the affidavit.
The following day an unidentified female left the Jeep in the parking lot.
Just a week later, on April 23, another EPD officer responded to Danny Len Buick GMC, 17605 U.S. Highway 441, also on a fraud complaint. An employee told EPD Carroll came to the dealership on April 17— the same day the Jeep was returned— and wrote a $5,000 check to hold a 2013 Ford F150. On April 19, Carroll returned to the dealership and finished paperwork and wrote a check for the remaining balance on the truck— $14,857.78. The checks were returned as unpaid four days later and the employee attempted to contact Carroll to no avail and then called police.
An EPD corporal contacted Carroll later that same afternoon and he said he had two accounts at the same bank, one of which is closed, and he “must have accidently written checks from the wrong account,” the affidavit states. Carroll later returned the truck.
Carroll’s criminal history showed a prior arrest in Winter Haven and EPD contacted Winter Haven Police Department and found that Carroll had purchased a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro from a dealership in Winter Haven, with a worthless check in the amount of $28,379.59 The report in that case mentioned a similar case in Pasco County and EPD contacted Pasco County Sheriff’s office and found that Carroll had purchased a 2020 Toyota Tacoma from a dealership there and then traded it in on a 2021 Jeep Rubicon. He is alleged to have written two checks for those vehicles totaling nearly $75,000.
Carroll also attempted to purchase a Ford F150 Platinum worth $74,000 from Prestige Ford, 17701 U.S. Highway 441, Eustis but was unsuccessful. Carroll was also unsuccessful at Phillips Buick GMC, 2160 U.S. 441/27, Fruitland Park. A warrant was issued for Carroll’s arrest on April 27 for two counts of grand theft auto and four counts of fraud. He was nabbed on April 29 and is being held in the Lake County Jail on $35,000 bond.
Umatilla Teen Keeps Buying Vehicles With Bum Checks — Two Lake Dealerships Hit Read More »
The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.
EUSTIS, Florida — A homeless man who told police he had been using fraudulent receipts “for years to get money” was busted for that offense and possessing methamphetamine Saturday, according to an arrest affidavit.
Eustis Police responded to Bealls, 2802 David Walker Drive on a report of a man using fraudulent receipts. An employee told EPD Darin Clay Grenier, 44, had committed fraud at their other location and the employee had been watching for him. He said Grenier entered the store and took a cooler and jewelry totaling nearly $80 and returned — it using a fraudulent receipt.
The employee approached Grenier, and he gave him $64 back, according to the affidavit. Grenier walked outside and sat on a bench until EPD arrived. When Grenier spoke with officers, he admitted to finding the receipts outside and fraudulently using them to receive cash. “[He] explained he was homeless and has been doing this for years so he can get money,” the arresting officer noted in the affidavit. (Lake County Jail records reveal numerous previous charges against Grenier— including several related to theft and fraudulent refunds.)
EPD searched the backpack Grenier had with him and found an orange pipe with residue and baggie with a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Grenier then returned the remaining cash he received to the Bealls’ employee and he was arrested for use of a fraudulently obtained receipt, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $4,000 bond.
The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.
EUSTIS, Florida — The Eustis Police chief abruptly resigned Wednesday, citing “other professional opportunities,” according to a press release.
Chief Gary Calhoun tendered his resignation to City Manager Ron Neibert on Wednesday, Neibert told Lake Legal News Wednesday afternoon. The city posted the press release on the city’s Facebook page and the post had garnered 60 comments at press time Thursday. Several comments questioned whether Calhoun resigned on his own accord or was forced out. Neibert denied Calhoun was forced out.
Calhoun was hired in 2015, and while his official last day is Feb. 5, he is taking leave until then, the press release states. Capt. Ken Birkhofer will serve as EPD’s interim chief.
In the coming weeks, the city will determine the criteria it is looking for in the next chief and they will be looking for someone who will, “take the city in the direction it needs to go,” Neibert told LLN. There will be a national search for a new chief, “as soon as reasonably possible,” he said.
The department has seen a tremendous amount of turnover in the last five years. It has 41 sworn officers, 28 of which (68 percent) have left the agency for various reasons — including seven of them who left to go to other law enforcement agencies, Neibert said. There are currently six open positions that still need to be filled.
Salaries may be the reason the department has seen so much turnover, “I’m aware there is some dissatisfaction with the pay,” Neibert said. There have also been some issues with the command structure, he said.
Starting salary at EPD is $40,123, but the neighboring cities of Mount Dora and Tavares starting salaries are $46,180 and $41,808, respectively. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2019 the population of Mount Dora was 13,897 and the population of Tavares was 16,752. Eustis’ population was 20,700.
City Of Eustis To Launch Nationwide Search, Following Current Police Chief’s Resignation Read More »
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