Eustis

After Extensive Search Sunday Night in Eustis, Wanted Suspect Still on the Lam

EUSTIS, Fla.—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is still searching for a suspect who was the subject of an extensive search in Eustis Sunday night.

David Flores, 37, is the suspect in an aggravated assault that occurred in the county portion of Bates Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Sunday and he also has an active warrant for burglary, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said.

Rumors were flying on social media Sunday night as residents watched numerous deputies and Eustis Police Department officers search the area around Eustis Middle School and DeLand Road, commonly known as the Eustis bypass. Tavares Police Chief Sarah Coursey told Inside Lake Flores is also a person of interest in a murder in Tavares in 2018.

LCSO received the report of the aggravated assault around 5:30 p.m. and deputies gathered information from the victim that indicated Flores was armed, in possession of a bulletproof vest and had fled on foot into nearby woods, Herrell said.

David Flores

Residents expressed their displeasure on social media on the lack of information provided by law enforcement during the search and Inside Lake asked why it was several hours before any information was provided to the media and the public.

“It was a very fluid situation with very little help from the victim. The deputies on scene were tied up for a long time trying to secure the perimeter and coordinate the search efforts. Once they were able to confirm information and communicate it to the public information officer, the information was released promptly,” Herrell told Inside Lake late Monday morning.

After more than four hours, the search was called off at 10:45 p.m., Herrell said.

LCSO is asking the public not to approach Flores and to notify them immediately if they spot him; he is considered armed and dangerous.

Previous story: LCSO and EPD Search for “Possibly Armed” and “Dangerous” Suspect – Inside Lake

After Extensive Search Sunday Night in Eustis, Wanted Suspect Still on the Lam Read More »

LCSO and EPD Search for “Possibly Armed” and “Dangerous” Suspect

EUSTIS, Fla.—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Eustis Police Department and Eagle One, LCSO’s helicopter, are searching for a suspect near Eustis Middle School wanted in an aggravated assault case.

LCSO received a report of an aggravated assault around 5:30 pm. Sunday at a home on Bates Avenue in LCSO’s jurisdiction, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said. Deputies received information that the suspect was David Flores, 37, and he was armed and had fled on foot into nearby woods.

“The Sheriff’s Office has been on scene trying to investigate the situation and locate the suspect, with little cooperation from the victim,” Herrell said.

David Flores

Flores also has a warrant for burglary and has ties to Apopka, Eustis and Sorrento.

The search caused EPD to shut down a nearby party at Carver Park being sponsored by Eustis Jr. Panthers Football, out of an abundance of caution, EPD Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake.

“Flores is possibly armed and should be considered dangerous,” Herrell said.

If you spot Flores, do not approach him and call 9-1-1.

LCSO and EPD Search for “Possibly Armed” and “Dangerous” Suspect Read More »

FWC Launches Online Reporting Tool to Help Combat Deadly Turtle Virus

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has launched a public reporting tool to help in its research on a virus that is killing Florida freshwater turtles.

FWC has been studying turtle fraservirus (TFV1) since 2018 and is now asking the public to report any sick or dead turtles to help them combat and understand this deadly virus. TFV1 has been found in Lake County, in addition to several other counties in Central Florida, but it could be present throughout the state, FWC warns; it has been identified in softshells, cooters, sliders and snapping turtles.

Signs a turtle could be infected:

  • Appears sluggish, unresponsive or reluctant to flee.
  • Stays in shallow water or beached on banks for prolonged periods of time.
  • Head and neck outstretched flat along the ground.
  • Sunken, swollen crusty and/or cloudy eyes.
  • Reddened skin on head, neck, limbs or bottom of shell.
  • Swims irregularly (sideways, in circles or is unable to submerge)
  • Sick sofshell turtles are slow and lethargic. PHOTO: FWC

In 2021, FWC enacted an executive order prohibiting unpermitted taking and transporting of softshell turtles and yellow-bellied sliders to reduce the spread of TFV1, Turtles should not be captured and transported to a new location even if they seem healthy.

To report a dead or sick turtle, click here.

FWC Launches Online Reporting Tool to Help Combat Deadly Turtle Virus Read More »

Paisley Bicyclist Dies from Injuries Sustained in Pine Lakes Crash

PINE LAKES, Fla.—The bicyclist injured in a crash with a semi-truck Wednesday has died.

Terry Cowart, 45, of Paisley was riding a bicycle when he attempted to cross State Road 44 near Spruce Drive and collided with a semi-truck with a trailer attached shortly after 8:15 a.m.

The truck was traveling on State Road 44 shortly after 8:15 a.m. Wednesday when Cowart attempted to cross State Road 44 in the direct path of the semi, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi told Inside Lake. The truck driver, a 55-year-old man from Kissimmee, swerved to avoid Cowart, and the truck overturned on the south shoulder of the road near a Circle K and a Dollar General.

Terry Cowart is seen here in this 2016 photo. PHOTO: Terry Cowart/Facebook

“The back end of the trailer caused (Cowart) to be thrown from the bicycle,” Crescenzi said in an email.

Cowart was airlifted to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford and he succumbed to his injuries Friday; the truck driver was not injured.

Paisley Bicyclist Dies from Injuries Sustained in Pine Lakes Crash Read More »

Paisley Bicyclist Critically Injured in Crash that Shut Down SR 44 Wednesday

PINE LAKES, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that critically injured a 45-year-old Paisley man riding a bicycle Wednesday morning.

A semi-truck with a trailer was traveling on State Road 44 near Spruce Drive shortly after 8:15 a.m. Wednesday when the bicyclist attempted to cross State Road 44 in the direct path of the semi. He was not in a marked crosswalk, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi told Inside Lake.

MAP: Florida Highway Patrol

The truck driver, a 55-year-old man from Kissimmee, swerved to avoid the bicyclist, and the truck overturned on the south shoulder of the road near a Circle K and a Dollar General.

“The back end of the trailer caused (the bicyclist) to be thrown from the bicycle,” Crescenzi said in an email.

The bicyclist was airlifted to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford with critical injuries; the truck driver was not injured. One lane of State Road 44 remained closed at press time.

Paisley Bicyclist Critically Injured in Crash that Shut Down SR 44 Wednesday Read More »

Crash Shuts Down SR 44 in Pine Lakes Area Wednesday Morning

PINE LAKES, Fla.—State Road 44 is shut down in both directions in the Pine Lakes area as the Florida Highway Patrol investigates a crash, according to FHP.

The crash occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. near the intersection of State Road 44 and Spruce Drive, and near a Circle K and a Dollar General.  Inside Lake reached out to FHP for details and was awaiting a response at press time.

This is a developing story.

MAP: Florida Highway Patrol

Crash Shuts Down SR 44 in Pine Lakes Area Wednesday Morning Read More »

Gopher Tortoise in 5-Gallon Bucket Lands Eustis Man in Jail

EUSTIS, Florida—A Eustis man was arrested by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Saturday morning for possessing a gopher tortoise—a threatened wildlife species— he was keeping in a five-gallon bucket, according to an arrest affidavit.

FWC received a call that a person on McDonald Street in Eustis was in possession of a possible gopher tortoise. An FWC officer responded to the apartment and Edrick L. Acres, 53, admitted he had the tortoise and showed the officer a five-gallon bucket that contained the tortoise, the affidavit states.

FWC took possession of the tortoise to return it to the wild and told Acres stay seated in a chair he was sitting in while the officer finished his paperwork in his truck. When the officer returned, Acres was gone. His mother said he went to a nearby store and FWC, with the assistance of Eustis Police Department, apprehended Acres about a block away on Clifford Avenue.

Acres was taken into custody, searched and found with a small bag of marijuana. He was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of a gopher tortoise and resisting arrest. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $2,500 bond.

Gopher Tortoise in 5-Gallon Bucket Lands Eustis Man in Jail Read More »

Orange County Wanted Suspect Taken Into Custody in Eustis Saturday Night Following Pursuit

EUSTIS, Fla.—A suspect wanted by Orange County Sheriff’s Office was taken into custody Saturday night in Eustis.

Law enforcement sources told Inside Lake the suspect was in a stolen vehicle when OCSO pursued him into Lake County, traveling all around Mount Dora and Eustis around 8:30 p.m. Saturday night. After a pursuit that lasted more than 30 minutes, the suspect bailed on foot near Trout Lake and was taken into custody about 15 minutes after he bailed, sources said.

Eustis Police Department, Mount Dora Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office all assisted in the apprehension.

This is a developing story.

PHOTO: Jolie Fowler/Inside Lake 

Orange County Wanted Suspect Taken Into Custody in Eustis Saturday Night Following Pursuit Read More »

Suspect in Stolen Vehicle Flees, Rams LCSO Cruiser, Strikes Multiple Stop Sticks, Flees on Foot, Apprehended by K9 Murphy in Leesburg Sunday

LEESBURG, Fla.—A Mount Dora man is facing a slew of charges after ramming a stolen vehicle into a Lake County Sheriff’s Office cruiser, fleeing to Sumter County, striking multiple stop sticks and fleeing back into Lake County where he was finally apprehended Sunday afternoon.

Henry Lee Gamble-Coleman, 26, was spotted around 5 p.m. in Leesburg by LCSO deputies in a vehicle stolen from Eustis, according to an arrest affidavit. Deputies attempted to pull Gamble-Coleman over near the intersection of South 14th Street and South Street and Gamble-Coleman “rapidly” accelerated and struck the passenger side of a K9 cruiser. He fled westbound on State Road 44 under the watchful eye of Eagle One, LCSO’s helicopter and traveled into Sumter County into a neighborhood on Heritage Boulevard.

Deputies again tried to stop Gamble-Coleman and he fled again, striking stop sticks with both passenger-side tires. He continued to flee and struck stop sticks on the driver’s side and turned back onto State Road 44, where he fled toward Lake County, the affidavit states.

Gamble-Coleman continued to flee at a low speed and deputies, fearing he would wreck, shut down the intersection of State Road 44 and County Road 468 and Gamble-Coleman turned onto Weber Avenue, a dead-end street, according to the affidavit.

He pulled into a parking lot on Weber Avenue, exited the stolen vehicle and fled on foot. A K9 handler released K9 Murphy and Gamble-Coleman was apprehended and taken into custody. He refused to identify himself but was later identified using “law enforcement resources” according to the affidavit.

He was arrested for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, grand theft auto, fleeing to elude, resisting without violence, driving while license suspended and failure to identify to law enforcement. He was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked for at least the 13th time since 2019. He is being held on $16,000 bond.

 

K9 Murphy is seen here with his handler LCSO Deputy Corey Lebrecque, earlier this year when they were honored as K9 of the Year by the Eustis Elks Lodge. PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

Suspect in Stolen Vehicle Flees, Rams LCSO Cruiser, Strikes Multiple Stop Sticks, Flees on Foot, Apprehended by K9 Murphy in Leesburg Sunday Read More »

Operation Poison Control Results in 21 Arrest Warrants, 50 Charges

TAVARES, Florida—A six-month long undercover drug investigation targeting fentanyl traffickers has wrapped up with the arrests of 15 people and six more are on the run, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

A joint operation between LCSO’s Special Investigations Bureau, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the City County Investigation Bureau— which includes police officers from Clermont, Eustis, Leesburg and Mount Dora—uncovered a variety of illegal narcotics being distributed throughout the county, including trafficking amounts of deadly fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA.

 

Law enforcement developed information from the public to aid in the investigation and obtained warrants for 21 individuals on a total of 50 charges that range from trafficking in narcotics to minor possession.

“Operations like this and the many we have done in the past save lives. I’m proud of the dedication and commitment of our undercover agents to keep Lake County safe,” Said Sheriff Peyton Grinnell.

Six people involved in the case have eluded authorities and are still being sought: Scottie Crosby, George Medina, Jason Simpson, Kourtney Smith, Tyson Smith and Derrick Walker.

 

Operation Poison Control Results in 21 Arrest Warrants, 50 Charges Read More »

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