Groveland Archives - Inside Lake

Fourth Annual Lake County Back the Blue Walk Scheduled for Saturday

Around the County, Astatula, Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Florida—Law enforcement and supporters will join forces for the fourth annual Lake County Back the Blue Walk at Wooton Park Saturday morning.

Scheduled for 9 a.m., this is one of many law enforcement events around Lake County held in May during Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. In its fourth year, the walk began in 2019 to show support for law enforcement during a time when the “defund the police” movement was making its way across the country, event organizer Shannon Cook told Inside Lake. Representatives from several law enforcement agencies and numerous public officials are expected to be in attendance.

“The good ones needed to know they were appreciated,” Cook said.

Cook has always had respect for law enforcement officers and the job they do, she said. Her close friend, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Wayne Koester, was killed in the line of duty Feb. 9, 2005. Koester, who was 33 at the time, and two other deputies were ambushed while responding to a domestic violence call. All three deputies were shot, and Koester succumbed to his injuries; the other two deputies recovered. Jason Wheeler was shot and paralyzed during his capture and convicted in Koester’s death. Cook was also close to Chris Daniels, who was serving as Lake County Sheriff when he was tragically killed in a charity bus race in 2006 on his birthday.

*Shannon Cook shows off one of the many gifts she has for the law enforcement officers who attend the walk Saturday. PHOTO: Shannon Cook*

Cook told Inside Lake it is important the community show its support for all of the good officers and those who were lost in the line of duty. Usually a one-woman show, Cook has some help this year from Wayne Koester’s brother, Victor Koester, Jolie Fowler, owner of The Car Doctor Automotive Specialist Inc., in Eustis, Lt. Kristin Thompson of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Nina Rosania, who is very active in the community, especially in her efforts helping out small businesses in Lake County.

Participants will meet a 9 a.m. at Wooton Park, 100 East Ruby Street, Tavares. The first stop will be the Lake County Administration Building, then a stop at the Tavares Public Safety Complex and the walk will end at Kalua Beach Bar with lunch. Donuts will be provided before the walk by Lake Tire & Auto in Tavares, and a hot dog lunch will be available at Kalua Beach Bar, provided by the restaurant and Duct-Man Mechanical LLC in Eustis.

Marion County Teen Suspected of Killing 3 Taken Into Custody near Groveland Saturday Night

Groveland, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

GROVELAND, Florida—The teen wanted in connection with the murders of three teenagers last month in Marion County was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Saturday, south of Groveland, according to a Facebook post by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

Inside Lake was tipped off Tahj Brewton, 16, was in custody, but LCSO was “unable to confirm,” shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday.

On Friday Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods announced Brewton was wanted and two other juveniles had been arrested in the murders of Layla Silvernail and Camille Quarles, both 16. A 17-year-old boy was also murdered, but his name has not been publicly released. All three teens were found shot to death in Marion County between March 30 and April 1. Silvernail and the boy were found shot on the side of different roads, several miles away from each other. Quarles was found in the trunk of Silvernail’s car, a white Chevy Cruze, that was found dumped in a pond near Ocklawaha April 1.

Woods said deputies believe all three teens were murdered at the same time, even though they were found in different locations, he said in a press conference Friday.

Robert Le’Andrew Robinson, 17, and Christopher De’l Atkins. 12, have been arrested and charged in the murders; Brewton was picked up on outstanding juvenile pickup orders for armed carjacking, aggravated assault, grand theft auto, fleeing and eluding and tampering with an electronic monitoring device. A juvenile pickup order is the equivalent of an arrest warrant for an adult. More charges are forthcoming for Brewton, according to the Facebook post.

Dry Conditions Force Countywide Burn Ban

Astatula, Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

LAKE COUNTY, Florida—Lake County officials imposed a burn ban effective Friday that will last indefinitely, according to a press release.

The burn ban is in effect for all of Lake County and prohibits the burning of yard debris, land and recreational fires but does not include outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills and barbecue pits that have a total fuel area of 3 feet or less and 2 feet or less in height.

Dry conditions forced the move by county officials and surrounding counties have enacted similar bans. For more than three weeks, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) rating has exceeded 500 and the ban is necessary for public safety, the press release stated.

When the KDBI rating falls below 500 for seven consecutive days, the county will lift the ban.

Suspect Who Surrendered to LCSO SWAT Team Monday was Wanted for Attempted Murder, Separate Shooting

Eustis, Groveland, Inside Scoop, Mascotte, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

EUSTIS, Florida—The man who surrendered to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team Monday afternoon was wanted for numerous charges stemming from two separate shootings this month, including attempted murder.

Eduardo “Gordo” Ramirez, 24, of Mascotte was wanted in the shooting of a man on Bay Lake Road in Groveland Monday, according to an arrest affidavit. LCSO deputies responded to Bay Lake Road Monday at an unknown time, and the victim, who was shot in his left leg, told deputies Ramirez shot him during an argument.

The victim said Ramirez was in the driver’s seat of a white SUV, later identified as a Nissan Murano, when they began arguing and Ramirez produced a pistol and shot him in the upper left leg area. The victim went in the house and Ramirez fled the scene with an unknown male. A family member of the victim called 9-1-1 and he was airlifted to a local hospital for treatment, according to the affidavit.

*Multiple public safety agencies stage in an undisclosed location before LCSO SWAT moved in on a home where they found a man wanted for a shooting. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake*

The victim’s father told LCSO Ramirez was staying at 605 Ohio Boulevard in Eustis and he was found to have an active warrant for another shooting earlier this month. Numerous deputies, including the SWAT team responded to the home on Ohio Boulevard and Ramirez surrendered peacefully, LCSO Lt. John Herrell told Inside Lake Monday. Only Inside Lake was on scene.

The law enforcement activity created concern for residents in the neighborhood that is just a half of a mile from Eustis High School.

*Eduardo Ramirez PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office*

In the other incident, Ramirez is accused of shooting at a man who was following a vehicle he believed his fiancé’ may be in on State Road 50 in Groveland March 3. According to that probable cause affidavit, a man was concerned about his fiancé, who had not been home in two days. He went to look for her and saw her friend’s car at a nearby convenience store. The man followed the car and Ramirez, who was in the car, pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots at the man. The man pulled out his own gun and fired shots back. He was not injured, but multiple bullets struck his truck, flattening the left front tire and damaging the engine block.

The victim’s fiancé’ returned home after the shooting and told Groveland Police Department “Gordo,” shot her fiancé;’ she later identified him in a photo lineup.

Ramirez is facing a litany of charges in both cases, including attempted murder with a firearm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of shooting a weapon from a vehicle, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and felony criminal mischief. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $120,000 bond.

*Members of LCSO’s SWAT team leave a home on Ohio Boulevard in Eustis after an attempted murder suspect surrendered Monday afternoon. PHOTO: Jolie Fowler/Inside Lake*

Shooting Suspect Taken into Custody by LCSO Monday

Pedestrian Killed on CR 473 Near Leesburg Late Thursday Night

Groveland, Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

LEESBURG, Florida—A 41-year-old Groveland man was killed Thursday night while walking in the southbound lane of County Road 473 near Lake Drive, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi.

Shortly after 10:30 p.m., a 2012 GMC Acadia being driven by a 38-year-old Leesburg man was traveling southbound on County Road 473 when it struck the Groveland man, killing him. The Leesburg man told troopers he did not see the man walking in his lane, Crescenzi said in a press release.

The Groveland man was pronounced deceased on the scene and the Leesburg man suffered minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

Polk County Detention Deputy Killed in Groveland Crash Wednesday

Groveland, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

GROVELAND, Florida—The young man killed in the head-on crash with a semi on State Road 33 in Groveland Wednesday has been identified as a Polk County detention deputy, by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO.)

Drake Sawyer Perry, 22, of Ocoee, was driving a 2014 Mazda 3 northbound on State Road 33 near Double H Lane when he veered into the southbound lane and struck a 2014 Volvo semi-truck head-on being driven by a 32-year-old man from Duluth, Georgia at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday. The semi then hit the rear left of a 2018 Hyundai Elantra, being driven by a 34-year-old Clermont woman, according to Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi.

*Polk County Detention Deputy Drake Perry, left, was killed in a crash in Groveland Wednesday. PHOTO: Polk County Sheriff’s Office*

Perry was pronounced dead on the scene and the driver of the truck was transported to Orlando Health South Lake Hospital in Clermont with serious injuries. The Clermont woman and her passenger were not injured, Crescenzi said.

Perry was dual-certified as a detention deputy and law enforcement officer and began working for PCSO in December 2022. He was off-duty at the time of the crash.

“We are all grieving at the loss of this young deputy who was just starting out in his career. Deputy Perry was an outstanding cadet in the academy, and his classmates and coworkers remember him as always smiling, always positive, and a team player who was always helping others. He was a natural born leader and aspired to be on the SWAT team. He will be greatly missed. Please keep his family in your prayers,” PCSO Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.

The crash remains under investigation.

Polk County Detention Deputy Drake Perry at his swearing-in ceremony with Sheriff Grady Judd, his grandmother, and his brother. Perry was killed in a crash in Groveland Wednesday. PHOTO: Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Polk County Sheriff's Office Detention Deputy Drake Perry PHOTO: Polk County Sheriff's Office

Separate Crashes Shut Down 2 Major Roads in Groveland Wednesday

Clermont, Groveland, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

GROVELAND, Florida—Two major roads were shut down Wednesday as both Groveland Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol simultaneously worked traffic crashes.

GPD shut down State Road 19 between Bible Camp Road and Laviance Boulevard due to a crash at State 19 and Cherry Lake Road around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Cherry Lake Road was also shut down at Cherry Lake Landing, according to a GPD social media post. No other details were available at press time.

FHP shut down State Road 33 north of Double H Lane following a fatal crash that occurred at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday. A man driving a 2014 Mazda 3 entered the southbound lane of State Road 33 and hit a 2014 Volvo semi-truck head-on. The semi, being driven by a 32-year-old man from Duluth, Georgia, then hit a 2018 Hyundai Elantra, being driven by a 34-year-old Clermont woman, according to FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi.

The driver of the Mazda was pronounced dead on the scene and troopers were attempting to locate his next of kin, Crescenzi said. The driver of the semi was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the Clermont woman was not injured.

Both crash scenes are active investigations.

$1 Million Winning Scratch-Off Ticket Purchased in Leesburg

Groveland, Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By Marilyn M. Aciego

LEESBURG, Florida—A Groveland woman has claimed a $1 million prize from a winning scratch-off ticket she purchased in Leesburg, the Florida Lottery announced Monday.

Cynthia Jackubowski, 56, bought the 500X THE CASH ticket for $50 at Quick Stop, 1200 West Main Street, Leesburg; the store will get $2,000 commission for selling the ticket, the Florida Lottery said.

Jackubowski claimed her prize at lottery headquarters in Tallahassee, and chose to take her winnings as a one-time, lump sum payment of $820,000.

Man Accused of Ramming Deputies, Carjacking and Crashing into School Bus Earlier this Month Facing More Charges

Clermont, Groveland, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

GROVELAND, Florida—The man who deputies say rammed three patrol vehicles in a stolen truck, carjacked a citizen and crashed into a school bus is facing five new charges, including three counts of felony criminal mischief, according to a new arrest affidavit.

Joseph Anthony Dale Crawford, 23, of Clermont is in the Lake County Jail on no bond after his two-county crime spree on Feb. 3 ended with him crashing a stolen Ford Bronco into a Lake County Schools bus.

Around 6 a.m. Feb. 3, a woman called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and reported her white 2019 Ford F-250 had been stolen overnight. She provided GPS coordinates to LCSO, and deputies tracked to truck to a gas station near Hartle Road in Clermont, LCSO Lt. Fred Jones said earlier this month.

They found Crawford pumping gas in the stolen truck and he fled when he saw deputies, ramming two patrol cars, disabling one. He was later boxed in at a construction site, where he rammed a third patrol car, Jones said. LCSO successfully deployed stop sticks and Crawford continued into Oakland in Orange County. The truck became stuck and he fled on foot. He attempted to carjack a vehicle, but was unsuccessful. He then carjacked a Ford Bronco as the driver was exiting the SUV and then fled back to Lake County.

*Joseph Crawford was sentenced to three years in prison for false imprisonment and leaving the scene of a crash. He was released in March 2022. PHOTO: Florida Department of Corrections*

He continued fleeing into Groveland, where he crashed into a school bus carrying three children and two adults. None of the occupants on the bus were injured, according to Jones.

Groveland Police Department took Crawford into custody and he was transported to an Orlando hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was arrested that day for three counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, grand theft, and resisting in Lake County, Jones said. He is facing additional charges in Orange County, but those charges had not been filed with the Orange County Clerk of Court at press time.

On Thursday, six days after the crime spree, Crawford was slapped with five additional charges. Video surveillance showed he used the stolen truck to steal a toolbox from truck parked outside a home on Moonflower Court in Clermont and a glasses case from a vehicle on Silver Leaf Circle in Clermont. He is facing a grand theft and petit theft charge for those crimes.

Crawford has also been charged with three counts of felony criminal mischief for damaging three separate guide rail attenuators on Florida’s Turnpike while he was fleeing deputies in the stolen truck. The attenuators are valued at $30,000.

Suspect Rams 3 Deputies in Stolen Truck, Flees Across 2 Counties, Carjacks SUV and Crashes into School Bus in Groveland Friday

Clermont, Groveland, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

GROVELAND, Florida—A man is facing a slew of charges in Lake and Orange counties after stealing a struck, ramming three Lake County Sheriff’s Office patrol cars, carjacking a citizen and crashing into a school bus Friday morning, according to LCSO Lt. Fred Jones.

LCSO received a call from the owner of the truck around 6 a.m. and she said her truck had been stolen in the middle of the night. She provided GPS coordinates to LCSO, and deputies tracked to truck to a gas station near Hartle Road in Clermont, Jones said.

They found Joseph Crawford, 23, of Groveland, pumping gas; he fled when he saw deputies, ramming two patrol cars, disabling one. He was later boxed in at a construction site, where he rammed a third patrol car, Jones said. LCSO successfully deployed stop sticks and Crawford continued into Oakland in Orange County. The truck became disabled and he attempted to carjack a vehicle, but was unsuccessful. He then carjacked a Ford Bronco as the driver was exiting the SUV and then fled back to Lake County.

He continued fleeing into Groveland, where he crashed into a school bus carrying three children and two adults. None of the occupants on the bus were injured, according to Jones.

Groveland Police Department took Crawford into custody and he was transported to an Orlando hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He is facing three counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding, grand theft, and resisting in Lake County, Jones said. He is facing additional charges in Orange County.

Crawford’s Lake County booking information and mugshot were not available at press time.

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