Eustis

EUSTIS, Florida—A prank phone call turned into a felony charge for a 14-year-old Tavares boy Tuesday when he was arrested for making a false bomb threat last month. Inside Lake is not naming the boy due to his age and the nature of the charge. Around 5:45 p.m. April 9, Eustis Police Department responded to Wendy’s, 2827 South Bay Street on a report of a bomb threat. Officers evacuated the building and parking lot and spoke with the manager who said he received a call on the restaurant’s main line around 5:30 p.m.; the caller asked, “Is this Wendy’s?” and

EUSTIS, Florida—A traffic stop for a missing tag landed a Eustis woman in jail Tuesday night after Eustis Police found 50 counterfeit bills, several smoking devices, printers, laptops and methamphetamine in her car, according to an arrest affidavit. Kimberley Renee Rappoccio, 40, was pulled over near her home in Eustis around 9: 30 p.m. because the car she was driving did not have a tag. Rappoccio told EPD she had bought the car two months prior and was returning home from trying to sell the car. She was able to provide a title signed by the seller, according to the

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

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

EUSTIS, Florida—A man who encountered Eustis Police twice in just a few hours could have spent the night at a friend’s house and went to court for his misdeeds, but instead he came back home, smashed cake in his girlfriend’s face and ended up in jail. Shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday a woman approached EPD officers while they were on an unrelated traffic stop and told them her boyfriend, Ronald Lee Thompson II battered her at their nearby home and stolen her wallet, her prescribed medication, and her phone when she tried to call 9-1-1, according to an arrest affidavit.

EUSTIS, Florida— Twenty-eight years ago, three Eustis women, inspired by a tragic event in 1993, created an event to bring their community together, and now nearly three decades later, it is still going strong. The Eustis African-American Heritage Celebration, scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday began in 1995 as UNITY—United Neighbors In Touch with the Youth, founded by Vivian “Carla” Mitchell, Patricia Wright and Kimberly Kelly Cameron in the wake of the tragic kidnappings and shootings of Dorothy Lewis and her daughters, Jamilya, 7 and Jasmine, 3. Dorothy survived her horrific injuries, the two sisters did not. The tragic event shook

EUSTIS, Florida—The man accused of dumping gunpowder in a fire that caused an explosion that severely burned his 3-year-old son has been arrested for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine—on his birthday and just two days after bonding out on the aggravated child abuse charge. Walter Jonathan Falen, 31, along with his passenger, Veronica Lynn Guerra, 30, were pulled over late Monday night for a faulty brake light, according to an arrest affidavit. An EPD officer recognized Falen and knew he did not have a license. Falen, who was very nervous and admitted he did not have a license, denied anything illegal

EUSTIS, Florida—A man accused of dumping gunpowder into a fire and causing an explosion that burned his 3-year-old son and himself in late December, was arrested early Thursday morning for aggravated child abuse. Shortly after 3:15 p.m. Dec. 29, Eustis Police responded to a home in the 500 block of Jackson Street on a report of a fire pit exploding in a backyard. When officers arrived, Walter Jonathan Falen Sr., 30, walked out of the bathroom, clad in only a wet towel, along with Falen’s 3-year-old son, according to a probable cause affidavit. Falen, who appeared to be in shock,

EUSTIS, Florida—Sometimes the nudge of a cold, wet nose can make even the worst things a little bit better. Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri recognizes that and now the department has a new furry friend. Echo, a 1-year-old, mixed breed Aussie (Australian Shepherd) and American bulldog has joined the force at EPD—not as an employee, but as a friend and therapy dog, EPD Police Support Coordinator Pam Gordon told Inside Lake Thursday afternoon. . EPD is the first city police department in Lake County to welcome a therapy dog to its ranks; the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has three therapy

EUSTIS, Florida— Investigators from The Florida Department of Financial Services, Eustis Police Department, Lake County Office of Building Services and the Lake County Board of County Commissioners worked undercover to bust an unlicensed contractor Wednesday. Kevin Allen Boyer, 53, of Eustis met undercover investigators at a building in Eustis and agreed to install a 20 feet by 30 feet screen enclosure with a pad, according to an arrest affidavit. Boyer told the agents he would email an estimate in two days that would include labor and materials.  Boyer said he did not have workers compensation coverage and was not exempt,

EUSTIS, Florida—A 17-year-old male was rushed to the hospital after getting shot in the face at Sunset Island Park Saturday, according to Eustis Police Department.   Multiple people were at the park when an unknown vehicle drove by and fired off shots shortly before 6 p.m. at the park, located at 409 West Ward Avenue. The park features a basketball court, playground equipment, grills picnic tables and a skate park. “It looks like they were having some kind of party,” EPD Chief Craig Capri said. The teen, whose name has not been released, was out of surgery and in stable

EUSTIS, Florida—It has been 9 months since Craig Capri became the chief of Eustis Police Department. And in those 9 months, the department has seen an numerous changes, including the promotions of nearly 22 percent of its sworn officers. Quite a change from a department that under its last chief, Gary Calhoun, saw a tremendous amount of turnover and had six open positions when Calhoun left the office in 2021. EPD is a small department with only 41 sworn law enforcement positions, including Capri. There are just two open positions with the recent swearing-in of two new officers earlier this

EUSTIS, Florida—A motorcyclist is dead following a crash shortly before sundown Saturday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A 69-year-old man from Missouri was riding a motorcycle southbound on State Road 19 at 5:33 p.m. when he attempted to turn right to travel west on County Road 19A, near Dam Smoker. He lost control, struck a sign and overturned in a ditch, FHP Lt. Kim Montes said in a press release. The man was ejected and transported to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, where he was pronounced dead. It is unknown if the man was wearing a helmet, Montes said.

MOUNT DORA, Florida— “We’re gonna take over and go crazy!” Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri’s announcement to 22 children and their caregivers early Sunday morning was met with claps and cheers as they made their way into Walmart in Mount Dora to spend gift cards that were generously donated by the community, including the AMVETS and current and retired employees. “This day would not be possible without the AMVETS,” Capri told Inside Lake. Capri was joined by his two thirds of his command staff, Capts. Ken Toler and Dave Carney, and several of his road patrol officers and administrative staff, in

EUSTIS, Florida—A man was found dead of a suspected overdose Wednesday at an embattled motel that is at risk of foreclosure due to code enforcement fines. Eustis Police responded to Colonial Inn, 1000 S. Bay Street, around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday after motel workers found an unresponsive man in a locked room, EPD Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake. Responding officers found a 36-year-old man dead with a needle, and bags of suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl underneath his body.   There were no signs of a struggle or foul play and the man is scheduled for an autopsy Thursday. He has

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida—A man and woman, both of Eustis were seriously injured Wednesday after the vehicle they were in was struck head-on around noon Wednesday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A 76-year-old woman of Deland was driving a Ford truck westbound on East New York Avenue near DeLand when she traveled over the yellow line for an unknown reason, FHP Lt. Kim Montes said in a press release. She hit a truck being driven by a 64-year-old Eustis man, head-on, seriously injuring the man and his passenger, a 64-year-old woman, also of Eustis.  They were transported to Central Florida

EUSTIS, Florida— More than 100 special needs clients and caregivers came out to the Eustis Community Center Wednesday to meet Eustis first responders in the city’s first-ever Public Safety Engagement Day; an event aimed at engaging members of the special needs community with first responders in a relaxed atmosphere. The event included demonstrations from Eustis Police Department’s K-9 unit and the SWAT bus was on hand for participants to look at. Participants also had an opportunity to hold a shield and try on body armor and check out a fire truck with Eustis Fire Department.  Numerous firefighters and officers were

EUSTIS, Florida—In response to complaints about drug activity, Eustis Police Department, along with Mid Florida SWAT served a search warrant at a home on Woodward Avenue early Friday morning, according to EPD Chief Craig Capri. “We needed to get out there and take care of it,” Capri told Inside Lake. Two people were in the home at 357 W. Woodward Avenue Apartment B, including Antwan T. Cross, 34, and an elderly woman. Cross, who turns 35 Saturday, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia and violation of probation. The woman is not facing any charges. 

EUSTIS, Florida—A man is facing drug and burglary charges after a witness saw him break into a local church and run from police last week. A nearby business owner spotted Chabazz Rionte Belle, 20, throw a bag onto the roof and enter Gethsemane Baptist Church, 505 S. Bay Street, around 8 a.m. Wednesday and he called Eustis Police Department, according to an arrest affidavit. EPD responded and attempted to get in the building but found all the doors were locked. A church official responded to the scene with a key and officers announced themselves, causing Belle to flee the building.