EUSTIS, Florida—An employee of an office supply store is facing fraud and grand theft charges after he was caught scamming the store with a gift card scheme, according to an arrest affidavit.
Matthew Tyler Nolen, 18, of Mount Dora, was confronted by the manager of Office Depot, 17081 U.S. Highway 441, after his drawer consistently came up short and the manager reviewed surveillance video. The video showed Nolen ring up Visa gift cards under his associate number and then select cash, the affidavit states.
Nolen performed four separate transactions over a week, totaling more than $1,000 that were captured on video and when confronted on Monday, Nolen admitted to the thefts and admitted he had taken around $50 in drinks he did not pay for, the affidavit states. Nolen began working at the store in January.
After writing a statement and being read his Miranda warning, Nolen refused to speak with EPD and was arrested for grand theft and scheming to defraud. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $2,000 bond.
TAVARES, Florida—A man who “surprised” his sister with a stolen trailer was arrested Monday after the Polk County victim pinpointed the trailer in Tavares using a tracking device.
Tavares Police responded to a construction site near Camp Street and Mansfield Road and found the trailer attached to a Ford truck. The officer ran the trailer’s license plate and confirmed it was stolen out of Polk County, then he ran the license plate of the truck it was attached to and found the registered owner was on site, according to an arrest affidavit.
When TPD spoke to the truck’s owner, she said her brother, Kenneth Ray Hutchinson, 44, had borrowed her truck Sunday to go to Lakeland and returned Monday morning with the truck and the trailer. She said she had previously told her brother she wanted a trailer and he “surprised” her with the trailer that day. When she asked him where he got it, he told her “from a friend,” the affidavit states.
Hutchinson, of Eustis, was arrested for grand theft and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $2,000 bond.
EUSTIS, Florida—A Leesburg man lost his swag Monday night when a deputy busted him hard—with ammunition and drugs, including more than two dozen Viagra pills tucked in next to his scrotum.
A Lake County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes deputy spotted Rodney Lamar “Hollywood Swag” Woods driving a green Ford Mustang with dark tinted windows late Monday night on State Road 19 near Pine Meadows Golf Course Road. The deputy performed a traffic stop for the suspected illegal tint and asked Woods for consent to search the car, which he denied, according to an affidavit.
A K9 deputy arrived, and the dog alerted on the vehicle, and the street crimes deputy began to search the car. He found a small amount of methamphetamine on the floorboard, and a box of 12-gauge shotgun shells inside the trunk. Woods exclaimed, “Those are birdshot!” as the deputy placed them on the hood of his patrol car. A digital scale with drug residue was also found in a backpack.
PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Woods, a 34-time convicted felon, was taken into custody and searched. “I then located a baggy tucked next to his scrotum with what appeared to be multiple baggies containing different powders, pills and crystal rock substances,” the deputy stated in the affidavit.
The deputy found 27 sildenafil citrate pills, commonly known as Viagra; 21 morphine pills with different strengths, one unknown pill, nearly 10 grams of methamphetamine, one gram of cocaine and a gram of an unknown powder all tucked in next to Woods’ scrotum.
Woods was arrested for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a legend drug with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, possession methamphetamine with intent to sell, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The arresting deputy requested Woods be held on no bond due to charges Inside Lake reported on in February.
In that case, Woods is accused of attacking a man with a baseball bat in December and causing multiple broken ribs and broken bones in his right arm, requiring surgery. Woods was picked up on a warrant in February and released on $50,000 bond the same day
Woods has been charged with more than 50 felonies and has been convicted of 34 of them; some are still open cases. He has been convicted of nearly two dozen misdemeanors.
EUSTIS, Florida—A Eustis woman was arrested on a warrant for aggravated child abuse Saturday after a 4-year-old boy she was babysitting in February said she put him in a dryer with towels and he went, “round and round.”
According to a probable cause affidavit, on Feb. 1, the boy was at the emergency room at UF Health Leesburg for treatment. Medical staff observed swelling and bruising on the child’s forehead, ears, abdomen and back, and the boy said, “Miss Amber” put him the dryer with towels, and he spun around, according to a probable cause affidavit. Amber Christine Chapman, 35, frequently babysat the child while his parents were at work.
The child was interviewed the following week and he said Chapman placed him in a dryer and closed the door and he went “round and round.” Chapman opened the door, closed it again and he went, “round and round,’ the affidavit states.
A warrant was issued for Chapman’s arrest Friday, and she was picked up Saturday and transported to the Lake County Jail, where she was released on $15,000 bond.
EUSTIS, Florida—A man accused of fleeing a traffic stop did not get very far when he crashed the vehicle, he was driving just a few blocks later, according to an arrest affidavit.
Eustis Police attempted to stop 2005 silver Honda without a front or rear bumper for running a stop sign at Park Avenue and Eustis Street shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday. The car, being driven by Erin Tryon Dobson, 18, accelerated and fled the area when an EPD officer activated his lights and sirens, running several stop signs. The officer then terminated the stop, due to department policy, the affidavit states.
A short time later, a crash was reported at Bay Street and Pendleton Avenue and the same officer responded and found it was the vehicle that had just fled from him in the same area. Dobson, of Umatilla, was on scene when EPD arrived and admitted he was driving the car and apologized for fleeing because he did not have insurance, according to the affidavit.
A witness told EPD she saw three black males exit the car and two of them took off on foot behind an apartment complex nearby; Dobson said one of the males was his cousin, but he did not know the other male’s name.
Dobson was arrested for fleeing and eluding and reckless driving. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $10,500 bond.
TAVARES, Florida—A woman busted by Eustis Police early this year with nearly 4 pounds of marijuana, scales, THC oil, chocolate bars containing hallucinogenic mushrooms and two concealed guns pleaded no contest to several of the charges Monday and was sentenced to 45 days in jail, with a credit of three days. Her legal woes are not over, however, she is still facing numerous charges in Orange County.
Miranda April Mauck, 30, of Okahumpka, pleaded no contest to three charges Monday, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and two counts of carrying a concealed firearm, according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records. Mauck was originally arrested for those charges in addition to possession of THC oil, possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms and possession of drug paraphernalia. The possession of THC oil and possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms charges were dropped, the disposition of the paraphernalia charge is unclear. Mauck was pulled over for speeding 17 miles over the posted limit by Eustis Police on Jan. 3 and the smell of marijuana was emitting from her vehicle, the arresting officer noted in the arrest affidavit.
A K9 alerted to drugs in her vehicle and upon searching, officers found marijuana in a backpack in plain view on the front passenger floorboard, more than $2,000 cash, a Glock 9mm, a Ruger .380, scales, marijuana packaging, THC oil, vape bars and 10 chocolate bars containing Psilocybin mushrooms. Mauck was arrested and released on $14,000 bond. Less than three weeks later, on Jan. 23, Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies learned of an illegal “Cannabis Exhibition” in a room at Point Hotel & Suites, 7389 Universal Boulevard, Orlando. The cannabis party was advertised on the Instagram account ”LadyNugsOfficial,” deputies later identified the account holder as Mauck, according to an Orange County probable cause affidavit.
OCSO drove to the hotel and began surveilling the property. They found a white Toyota registered to Mauck and observed two white males who appeared to be acting as “lookouts,” according to the affidavit. They left a short time later in an SUV and were pulled over. Though, deputies could smell a strong odor of marijuana, none was found during a search. The driver, Christopher Bordoy, was released on scene, along with his passenger. Mauck then left the hotel in her Toyota and was also pulled over. Again, deputies smelled a strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle. They found 17 grams of marijuana in a pill bottle and Mauck was taken into custody. OCSO found a room key during the search and after taking to the manager, they found the room was registered to Bordoy. OCSO and the manager went to the room where they found a bag of food in front of the door with Mauck’s name, a deputy noted in the affidavit.
PHOTO: Eustis Police Department
They entered the room and found cannabis residue and multiple suitcases and after securing a search warrant, they searched the room. They found multiple bags of cannabis and edibles and more than $7,500 in cash. The cannabis weighed 25.2 pounds and the edibles weighed 52 pounds, according to the affidavit. OCSO has since filed forfeiture proceedings against Mauck and Bordoy on the cash, according to Orange County Clerk of Court online records.
Mauck’s Instagram name, “LadyNugsOfficial” appeared on multiple cannabis bags, a CashApp card and paperwork, the affidavit states. A warrant was issued for trafficking in a controlled substance, trafficking in cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia on Jan. 27. On Feb. 13, a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted a grey Audi and found the registered owner, Mauck, had an Orange County warrant. Mauck was pulled over and arrested on the warrant. LCSO searched her vehicle and found more than 20 grams of marijuana in multiple packages and THC oil. She was arrested on those charges as well as the Orange County warrant, but the Lake County charges were later dropped.
Nearly 10 years ago, Mauck witnessed her boyfriend get shot by an LCSO deputy. On July 15, 2012, Mauck’s boyfriend, Andrew Lee “Drew” Scott, 26, was killed when a deputy came to his door—the wrong door—looking for a battery suspect. A lawsuit filed in 2013 by Mauck and Scott’s parents against then-Sheriff Gary borders and Deputy Richard Sylvester claimed, Sylvester, “banged on the door” of Mauck’s apartment in Leesburg in the early morning, “in such a manner to bewilder or frighten the residents and foreseeably place said residents in a defense posture.”
Mauck and Scott were watching TV in apartment 114 at Blueberry Hill Apartments in Leesburg and Scott, fearing for their safety, retrieved his legally owned handgun and opened the door. Sylvester fired six shots, striking Scott at least three times and killing him. Mauck was struck by glass and debris. Sylvester did not announce himself as law enforcement and was not criminally charged. In response to the lawsuit, defendants Borders and Sylvester filed a motion for a summary judgment and the court granted Sylvester qualified immunity and denied Mauck’s and Scott’s parent’s claims. They appealed the ruling and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling.
LAKE COUNTY, Florida—A 22-year-old Sanford man was killed Tuesday night in a three-vehicle crash that shut down State Road 44 near Eustis, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The man, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima westbound around 6:10 p.m. on State Road 44 near Donna Vista Place when he crossed over the center line and sideswiped a 2014 Honda Accord being driven eastbound by a 30-year-old Sorrento woman, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said in a press release.
The Altima then struck a 2006 Chevy Silverado head-on being driven by a 56-year-old Eustis man. The driver of the Altima was killed, and the driver of the Silverado was seriously injured and airlifted to Central Florida Regional Medical Center in Sanford with non-life-threatening injuries, Crescenzi said. The driver and passenger of the Accord were not injured.
LAKE COUNTY, Florida—A multi-vehicle fatal crash has shut down State Road 44 at Donna Vista Place, near Eustis, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at 6:10 p.m., involves multiple vehicles and one person was pronounced dead on the scene, FHP Lt. Kim Montes said.
EUSTIS, Florida—A drunk driver whose BAC was nearly three times the legal limit, caused quite a commotion Wednesday night during the dinner hour when he lost control of his truck and crashed into a tree in front a popular pizza and sub shop in downtown Eustis.
Cameron Mitchell Smith, 29, of Leesburg, was arrested for DUI after Eustis Police responded to the reported crash in front of El Marie Pizzeria and Sub Shoppe, 200 North Bay Street just before 6:45 p.m., according to an arrest affidavit.
Witnesses said they saw Smith leave the parking lot of Crazy Gator, 402 North Bay Street, almost striking Lake Mechanical Contractor’s brick building and then slowing for the green light at Bay Street and Clifford Avenue. Smith “hit the gas” and began speeding toward El Marie Pizzeria and Sub Shoppe and finally crashed into the tree.
EPD arrived and found a blue pickup truck stuck on a large tree in front of the restaurant; Smith told officers he was traveling southbound on Bay Street when he lost control due to wet conditions and bald tires. Lake EMS and Eustis Fire Department arrived on scene to check Smith’s condition and he reportedly told a firefighter he drank two beers prior to the crash and police “were going to grab him,” the affidavit states.
Smith refused to perform field sobriety exercises and was handcuffed; after being handcuffed he began “begging, advising officers that he did not hear them,” the affidavit states. Officers took the handcuffs off Smith, and he had difficulty keeping his head still and refused to listen to instructions, the arresting officer noted.
PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Smith was transported to EPD and agreed to a breath test; he provided two samples for blood alcohol concentration (BAC,) one came in at .233 and the second, .229—nearly three times the legal limit of .08.
Smith, who has a prior DUI conviction from Pennsylvania, was arrested for DUI and cited for not having insurance and carless driving. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $1,000 bond.
EUSTIS, Florida—A little bit of everything, including the kitchen sink.
More than two dozen people came out in the cloudy and humid weather to clean up just a small part of the community and their efforts took at least 2,370 pounds of trash off just one street in Eustis Tuesday afternoon during “CleanUp with a Cop.”
Beginning with a group photo in front of Palmetto Point Park with a display from “Card My Yard, Leesburg, FL” volunteers armed with grabbers and buckets made their way down Palmetto Street grabbing every piece of trash they saw, while Eustis Public Works was on hand to pick up and dispose of all the trash.
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri teamed up with CleanUp Eustis’ Christine Cruz, for the second such event in less than a year and proved just a few people can make a substantial difference in a small amount of time.
“We’re making Eustis great,” Capri said.
Eustis resident and candidate for city commission Gary Ashcraft, brought the area to Cruz’ attention after picking his daughter up at a nearby campus.
“I couldn’t believe how bad that area is. The roads lead to Palmetto (Point) Park and it was sad to see the trash,” Ashcraft told Inside Lake. “The residents near the area tell the city they don’t seem to get enough attention to the roads in the area, so I decided to lead a team with CleanUp Eustis to show good faith and how everyone from the community can come together to help all areas of the city.”
CleanUp Eustis has taken tens of thousands of pounds of trash out of Eustis’ lakes and off the streets and will see its fifth birthday this Labor Day. Cruz is appreciative of all the efforts from the community and is especially grateful for Eustis Public Works, “Honestly, without them, no cleanups would ever happen. They are amazing and remove all the trash we pick up.”
Two mattresses, a dozen tires, 31 contractor-size bags of trash that contained various food wrappers, soft drink containers, beer bottles and yes, even a kitchen sink were collected today by volunteers on Palmetto Street. About a dozen shells, believed to be gopher tortoise shells were also found. In Florida, gopher tortoises are a threatened species and both the tortoises, and their burrows are protected by law.
Some of Palmetto Street is in the city limits and another portion is in unincorporated Lake County, but that did not matter to Capri. He wants the whole area cleaned up and more inviting to residents and visitors, he told Inside Lake. The street dead-ends at Palmetto Point Park, a serene setting where three children were enjoying their Spring Break fishing while volunteers worked to clean up.
Eustis City Commissioner Willie Hawkins, along with Carla Mitchell, president of the Eustis African American Heritage Committee joined Capri and several of his officers and a civilian employee, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and inmates from the Lake County Jail in addition to numerous other volunteers.
“It’s a community team effort, with help from multiple groups,” Cruz told Inside Lake.
CleanUp Eustis has a monthly cleanup event the first Saturday of each month at Ferran Park; to keep up with its events, join its Facebook group, CleanUp Eustis.
