Tavares

Adult son of Tavares city councilman arrested again, bond set at $400K

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Fla.—The adult son of a Tavares city councilman was arrested again Wednesday after a Tavares Police Department detective found video evidence of child sex crimes on his phone, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Cole Singer, who turned 22-years-old earlier this month, was picked up Wednesday afternoon on a warrant for four charges – lewd and lascivious battery, lewd and lascivious molestation, lewd and lascivious conduct and production of child pornography, stemming from an incident in 2021.

Cole Singer’s father is Troy Singer, a Tavares city councilman who has served on the council since he was appointed in 2016, and was subsequently reelected in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. In addition to council member, he has also served as vice-mayor and mayor, Mark O’Keefe, Support Services director for the City of Tavares told Inside Lake last month.

In April, Cole Singer was arrested on two dozen counts related to child pornography after a TPD investigation uncovered Singer had allegedly transmitted multiple child porn images between December 2024 and early February. Acting on a tip submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC,) TPD began investigating the case in February and searched the home Singer shares with his parents the day of his first arrest. In that search, TPD seized Cole Singer’s phone, and it was turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a forensic download, commonly known as a “data dump.”

While reviewing the data, a detective found a video that showed a young male performing a sex act on Cole Singer outside of the pair’s place of employment. The name and address of the business are redacted from the affidavit. The victim’s age is also redacted but Inside Lake confirmed he was under 16 when the act occurred, and Cole Singer was a little more than a month from turning 18.

The victim and his parents were interviewed at TPD, and the victim told TPD detectives he was in the video with Cole Singer. He said Cole Singer said, “Hey, can we do something in the back,” and led the victim to the “back,” an alleyway area behind the business’ patio, the affidavit states.

The victim told detectives details about the sex act and said, “I was a kid, I didn’t know.”

The victim told detectives Cole Singer later brought up the act when the victim was older, and because he was older, he understood what had occurred and told Cole Singer, “no,” and he was not interested.

The victim told police Cole Singer did the “same thing” and pressured him into the same sex act when Cole Singer was approximately 14 years old. He also said he and Cole Singer would wrestle and Singer would tell the victim to “choke” him. Due to heavy redaction, it’s unclear when this occurred. In the affidavit, the detective noted she located, “several instances where Cole would discuss being choked or wishing he could be choked.”

The victim was asked if he felt like he had no choice but to participate and he reportedly said, “(Cole) would keep telling me to do it, even if I would say no. He would just say please.”

A warrant was issued for Cole Singer’s arrest following the interview with the victim. He was arrested Wednesday and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $400,000 bond.

Previous story: Adult son of Tavares city councilman arrested on 2 dozen child pornography charges, house they share searched in quest for more evidence – Inside Lake

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PHOTO: Lake County Fire Rescue

Mulch fire causing smoky conditions in Tavares

Astatula, Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Fla.—A mulch fire at the Lake County Solid Waste Facility is creating a lot a smoke in the Tavares area and Lake County Fire Rescue officials are telling residents to keep their doors and windows closed.

LCFR and the Solid Waste Department are working to break up the mulch pile and remove fuel sources, LCFR said, and the Florida Forestry Service has created a precautionary barrier around the fire that was caused by recent rain and extreme heat.

The smoke may continue for several days and businesses and residents should keep doors and windows closed. Individuals with certain respiratory and allergy illnesses may experience increased symptoms. The Lake County Solid Waste Facility is functioning as usual.

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Tavares cleaning company eases the burden for cancer patients

Eustis, Howey-in-the-Hills, Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Mount Dora, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Fla.— A local cleaning company is continuing its mission of giving back to residents who are fighting cancer—and to them, the mission is personal.

For the third year running, Bright Side Services Inc. of Tavares has partnered with Cleaning for a Reason, a non-profit organization that pairs residents who are undergoing cancer treatment with local cleaning companies that donate two free house cleaning sessions. Founded by Debbie Sardone of Buckets & Bows Maid Service in Texas, cleaning companies from across the country participate, including Tavares-based Bright Side Services Inc., owned by Michelle and Mike Krueger. They have participated in the program since 2022 and the mission has a deep personal meaning to them, Michelle Krueger said.

Michelle and Mike Krueger

“This cause is close to my heart,” she said. “I clean in memory of two extraordinary individuals, Judy Weikel and John Brian Kaup—who showed me what strength and generosity really look like.”

Krueger shared why Weikel and Kaup are so important to her.

“Judy was one of my earliest supporters, always lifting me up and sharing my business with others. I remember confiding in her once about a slow week on the schedule, and she simply said, ‘There will come a day when you wish for a day off.’ She was right—and her faith in me carried me through.”

“John is a fellow cleaning business owner whose positivity is unmatched. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, he continued to serve others with grace and grit. His resilience is a reminder of why this work matters. Thankfully, he has since recovered, and I’m honored to recognize his journey through this effort.”

Serving the community since 2007, Bright Side Services Inc. donates two cleanings for each cancer patient, and donates services to two patients each month. This service is available to residents fighting cancer in Tavares, Mount Dora, Eustis, Leesburg, Howey in the Hills, and Yalaha. Anyone undergoing cancer treatment—regardless of age, gender, or cancer type—can apply for free house cleaning services. To date, 30 cancer patients have received free cleanings from Bright Side Services Inc. Krueger said. Patients in need of services can apply here.

“Cleaning for a Reason understands the impact that a clean home has on a cancer patient’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When cancer makes life at home difficult, our network of residential cleaners and volunteers support are here to support you or your loved ones battling cancer,” according to its website.

“When someone you care about is facing cancer, you want to do something—anything—to help,” said Krueger. “Offering a clean, peaceful home is one small way we can lighten their load. It’s a heartfelt tribute to Judy and John, and a promise to keep showing up for those who need it most.”

Want to help Cleaning for a Reason?

To register your organization, click here.

To register your cleaning company, click here.

To donate, click here.

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Mom accused of kidnapping daughters from Sorrento foster home pleads no contest, sentenced to prison

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Fla.—The mom accused of kidnapping her two daughters from a Sorrento foster home in January 2024 pleaded no contest last month to her charges and was sentenced to three years in prison, followed by five years of probation, according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives began investigating the case after Tilli and Natalia Williams’ foster mother reported them missing around 7 a.m. Jan. 25, 2024. Authorities quickly named their mother, Dixie K. Williams, as a suspect and issued an Amber Alert. They were found the next day in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana after Louisiana State Police (LSP) received information from LCSO that Williams may be traveling on Interstate 20 in a silver Nissan Rogue. Troopers spotted the Rogue and initiated a traffic stop, just before 12:15 p.m. local time. Williams came to a brief stop on Interstate 20 westbound, east of LA-145 and then fled from troopers, according to LSP.

After a brief pursuit by LSP and Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, a “tire deflation device” was deployed and Williams came to a stop, LSP said.

Williams was taken into custody and Tilli and Natalia were safely recovered by law enforcement. Williams spent more than eight months in a Louisiana jail and was extradited back to Lake County in October 2024.

In April, she pleaded no contest to the two kidnapping charges and was sentenced to three years in prison with credit for 184 days, time served. She will be on probation for five years following her release from prison. Williams was also facing several traffic-related charges stemming from traffic stop by Eustis Police Department in 2022. On that traffic stop, Williams told the arresting officer she was “traveling” and “did not need a license,” a phrase commonly used by self-proclaimed sovereign citizens. She pleaded no contest to three of those charges and the other two were dropped. She was sentenced to time served in February.

Previous story: https://insidelake.com/2024/10/25/mom-accused-of-sorrento-kidnapping-extradited-to-lake-county/

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LCSO deputy shot in rescue attempt of murdered deputy returns to light duty

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Fla.—Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stefano Gargano returned to temporary light duty Monday, a little more than nine months after he was shot multiple times.

On Aug. 2, 2024, Gargano was shot, suffering traumatic injuries, during a rescue attempt of Master Deputy Bradley Link. Link and K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell, along with several other deputies, were performing a well-being check at the home Julie and Michael Sulpizio shared with their adult daughters, Savannah and Cheyenne Sulpizio, located 38144 Brookside Drive in unincorporated Eustis, following a Baker Act of Julie Sulpizio. After finding two dead dogs in the yard, a window with a broken screen and multiple announcements made by Link over his PA system, shortly after 9 p.m., Link, Howell and three other deputies attempted to enter the Sulpizio home. They entered through the rear door near the driveway that opens to a small laundry room and leads into a hallway that goes left and right.

Link approached the hallway and announced he was going left and indicated Howell should go right. As Link walked into the hallway, his bodycam picked up several frames of what appeared to be a male wearing a black shirt or body armor, with a rifle, positioned on the arm of a couch, ready to ambush deputies. Link did not see the man because he was looking left down the hallway, and the bodycam was facing forward, Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said last year.

Link entered the hallway and the suspect, believed to be Michael Sulpizio, opened fire, shooting Link in the back several times, and Howell was shot in the arm. Howell and the other deputies were forced to retreat out of the residence and Link was immobilized, suffering multiple gunshot wounds. He attempted to crawl on his back to cover but was unsuccessful. Link emptied his duty weapon of all rounds, Grinnell said, and moved his hand in what appeared to be an attempt to answer his radio as his ID number was called out but was also unsuccessful. He was shot several more times.

Link’s bodycam continued to record audio and video and was pointed toward the ceiling, and at 9:24 p.m., a female yelled, “My king kill all of you. You are Lucifer’s children,” in response to deputies asking for Link’s release.

Two minutes later the Street Crimes team, comprised of Deputy Corey LaBrecque, Deputy Matthew Green, Cpl. Tyler Palmer and Gargano entered the home, with Gargano in the lead with a ballistic shield as cover. It was later revealed Gargano insisted he go first because he was the only member of the team who did not have children. As he approached the threshold of the hallway, Gargano was shot through the wall multiple times, by high-caliber rounds, causing him to become incapacitated. The team returned fire and extracted Gargano. LaBrecque immediately began assessing and treating Gargano’s injuries, and accompanied Gargano in the ambulance as he was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital as a trauma alert.

Just after 11 p.m. deputies heard two rapid gunshots and a third shot a few minutes later and LCSO’s SWAT Team ripped a wall off the residence and extracted Link. He was rushed to a waiting ambulance for transport to a landing zone so he could be flown out for treatment. While en route, the decision was made to transport him to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, where he was ultimately pronounced deceased.

As the SWAT Team cleared the home, they found two deceased females on the couch, dead from what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head. Michael Sulpizio was found on the couch with a gunshot wound and a faint pulse. He was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.

A search of the home revealed a stockpile of 20 firearms placed strategically around the home. Ammunition, food and water, medical bags and bugout bags, in addition to anti-government propaganda were also found. No illegal drugs were found in the home.

Top: Deputy Stefano Gargano; Deputy Corey LaBrecque
Bottom: Deputy Matthew Green; Cpl. Tyler Palmer
PHOTOS: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

In March, the Street Crimes team and Howell, along with many others, were honored by LCSO for their actions that tragic evening. Gargano, LaBrecque, Green and Palmer were each awarded the Medal of Honor; LaBrecque was awarded the Lifesaving Medal, Howell was awarded the Medal of Valor; and both Gargano and Howell were awarded the Purple Heart, at the ceremony in Leesburg. The three deputies who entered the home with Link and Howell, Master Deputy Christopher Kessinger, Deputy Stephen Snow, and Sgt. Christopher Stevens, were each awarded the Medal of Valor. Link was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Gargano returned to temporary light duty Monday and Howell continues to recover from his injuries.

LCSO deputy shot in rescue attempt of murdered deputy returns to light duty Read More »

6th Annual Lake County Back the Blue & Red Walk scheduled for Saturday

Around the County, Astatula, Clermont, Eustis, Features, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

TAVARES, Fla.—For the sixth year running, public safety and its supporters will join forces for the annual Lake County Back the Blue & Red Walk.

Scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at Wooton Park in Tavares, this is one of many law enforcement-related events around Lake County held in May during Law Enforcement Appreciation Month and last year, Organizer Shannon Cook added firefighters to the appreciation walk.

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, Cook said, 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 in an earlier interview, and this year the walk is especially important to Cook for several reasons – remembering Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link who was killed in an ambush attack in August 2024, and honoring Master Deputy Harold Howell and Deputy Stefano Gargano who were shot in the same attack. This year also marks 20 years since Deputy Wayne Koester was killed in a separate ambush attack 20 years ago.

PHOTOS: Bonnie Whicher/Inside Lake 

Koester was Cook’s close friend, and 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.

Participants will meet at 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, provided by owner Randy Connor; come a little early to enjoy donuts and coffee.

Shirts, provided by every year by Turf Tech Professional Lawn Maintenance, will be for sale for $10 each at the walk. The money will be used for Lake County Back the Blue & Red’s quest to become a non-profit organization.

6th Annual Lake County Back the Blue & Red Walk scheduled for Saturday Read More »

Tavares Police Department investigates a crash that killed a man Tuesday morning. Courtesy photo

Tavares police investigating single-vehicle fatal crash

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Fla—Tavares Police Department is investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed a Tavares man Tuesday morning.

A passerby located a 2020 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck off State Road 19 at South Eichelberger Road just before 6 a.m. and called TPD. Officers responded and found the driver, Anthony Torres, 64, deceased on the scene; he was not wearing a seatbelt.

The crash is still under investigation, but TPD believes Torres was traveling southbound on State Road 19, left the roadway and struck a tree, TPD Detective Caitlin Diaz said in an email. It is unknown what time the crash occurred, the passerby who found the truck did not witness the crash, she said.

If you have information on the crash, call TPD at 352-343-2101, option 4.

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Master Deputy Bradley Link's handcuffs were used to arrest Julie Sulpizio last year for an ambush attack on Lake County Sheriff's Office deputies. PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff's Office

Competency review hearing scheduled for matriarch accused of ambush attack on deputies

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Fla.—A competency review hearing for the lone survivor of a family deputies say plotted to kill them last year is scheduled for next month.

Julie Ann Sulpizio was declared incompetent to stand trial in February for charges stemming from the August 2024 ambush attack outside Eustis that killed Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link and wounded K9 Master Deputy Harold Howell and Deputy Stefano Gargano.

According to Circuit Judge Brian Welke’s order to transport and notice of hearing, the court has been noticed Sulpizio “is competent to proceed, or otherwise no longer meets criteria for continued commitment…” The order goes on to state Sulpizio must be delivered to the appropriate detention facility within seven days of the order, filed late Tuesday afternoon.

Sulpizio, 48, is accused of starting an altercation with her neighbors on Brookside Drive in unincorporated Eustis on Aug. 2, 2024. LCSO responded to the altercation and during a well-being check at her home, just down the street from the original call, deputies were ambushed. Link was shot and suffered fatal wounds, and in an immediate rescue attempt of Link, Howell was shot in the wrist and in a subsequent rescue attempt, Gargano was shot multiple times. Howell and Gargano have not returned to duty and continue to recover from their injuries.

 

Evidence at the scene revealed Julie’s husband, Michael, and daughters, Cheyenne and Savannah, all participated in the attack and opened fire on the deputies; all three were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds after LCSO’s SWAT Team entered the home.

If declared competent, Sulpizio is facing a multitude of charges, including principal to first degree murder of a law enforcement officer, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, three counts of principal to attempted first degree murder of a law enforcement officer, three counts of battery and one count of battery on a law enforcement officer.

Competency review hearing scheduled for matriarch accused of ambush attack on deputies Read More »

File photo

Adult son of Tavares city councilman arrested on 2 dozen child pornography charges, house they share searched in quest for more evidence

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

Publisher’s note: There was a discrepancy between this article and online Lake County Jail records regarding Cole Singer’s bond and the number of charges he is facing. This article has been updated to include an explanation from Tavares Police Department.

TAVARES, Fla.—The 21-year-old son of a Tavares city councilman was arrested on a warrant for two dozen counts related to child pornography during a search warrant at the home they share Monday.

Arrest warrant in hand, Tavares Police Department executed the search warrant at the home of Cole Singer, who lives with his parents in Tavares, after a TPD investigation uncovered Singer had allegedly possessed and transmitted multiple child pornography images between December 28, 2024, and Feb. 10, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Cole Singer’s father is Troy Singer, a Tavares city councilman who has served on the council since he was appointed in 2016, and was subsequently reelected in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. In addition to council member, he has also served as vice-mayor and mayor, said Mark O’Keefe, Support Services director for the City of Tavares.

“The City is aware of the recent arrest involving the adult child of one of the City councilmembers,” O’Keefe told Inside Lake in an email. “Where this matter is a personal matter and does not involve the councilmember in their official capacity, It does not pertain to City business or operations. The City respects the legal process and understands that all individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

“The City remains focused on serving the public with professionalism and integrity,” O’Keefe said.

Acting on a tip submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC,) TPD began investigating the case in February.  X Corp., formerly known as Twitter, turned over two files with the tip, one that included a video depicting a prepubescent juvenile male, less than 8 years old, performing a sex act on an adult male.

Through investigative subpoenas to multiple social media and email platforms, TPD uncovered 14 instances of Cole Singer allegedly possessing child pornography and 10 instances where he allegedly transmitted it. In one chat thread, after sending links to now-deleted accounts, Cole Singer reportedly states, “im (sic) nervous I’ve never done this before haha.” Cole Singer is also facing a single count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

Police also found videos and photos of prepubescent males taken out in public by another user and Cole Singer, and the pair would exchange the photos with each other, according to the affidavit. One video, sent by Cole Singer, depicted a young, juvenile male washing his hands in a bathroom. The child appears to be unaware he is being recorded, the affidavit states.

A warrant was issued for Cole Singer’s arrest, and he was taken into custody Monday morning during the search warrant at his home. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $50,000 bond.

After community members flooded social media Tuesday night and questioned a discrepancy between this article and online Lake County Jail records regarding Cole Singer’s bond and the number of charges he is facing, Inside Lake asked TPD for an explanation.

“There was a mistake on the original warrant where a total of 49 counts were listed. There was an amended warrant made to correct it to the current 25 counts,” TPD said. “The jail kept the 49 counts on its website, with a $0 bond for the counts that are not being charged. This was confirmed by the detective who also ensured the jail was aware.”

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Bail bond agent cheated her client’s mom, Tavares police say

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Fla.—A well-known and longtime Tavares bail bond agent found herself on the other side of the law Tuesday when Tavares Police Department arrested her for allegedly cheating her client’s mom out of $900 – and the cash exchange was captured on a parking garage surveillance camera.

Jeannie “Red” Hayden is accused of taking the cash in March and leaving the client sitting in jail.

According to a report from TPD, on March 27, the client’s mother contacted TPD following a call from another Tavares bail bond agent to TPD that morning. The agent initially told TPD Hayden “scammed” his client. He said in January, a woman was arrested for several drug possession charges and allegedly made an agreement with Hayden to bond her out of jail.  The alleged agreement required the client to pay $200 up front and make payments on the remaining balance. He said the client did not adhere to the agreement, and Hayden had her recommitted on March 5. According to Lake County Clerk of Court online records, her bond with Red’s Bail Bonds was discharged on March 6.

Later, on March 27, the client’s mother contacted TPD and said she spoke with Hayden about bonding her daughter out after she was recommitted. Hayden reportedly told her it would cost $900, the remainder of the bond the client originally agreed to pay, and they scheduled a meeting at the Tavares Parking Garage on Sinclair Avenue in the late of March 9. The client’s mother and boyfriend met Hayden at the garage, where the boyfriend gave Hayden $900 while the mother filled out paperwork, surveillance video showed. Hayden, who did not give the mother a copy of the paperwork, left the garage, which is across the street from the jail, and never returned.

The pair waited approximately four hours for her to be released and her mother called Hayden, who allegedly told her, “the company” would not allow her to bond the client out again. Her mother requested Hayden return the $900 and she refused and said they would have to use another bail bond agent, according to the report. During the investigation, the client’s mother provided a screenshot of a text message from Hayden timestamped March 9, that stated, “I’m SORRY I tried to call you back. I even tried to call my underwriter but they wouldn’t Accept (sic) the bond again. I am so sorry.”

During her investigation the TPD officer spoke with yet another local bail bond agent to confirm the bonding process and he provided emails to contacts at the Department of Financial Services who also confirmed the $900 should have been returned if the bond was not completed.

A warrant was issued for Hayden’s arrest for grand theft and cheating (fraud) on Tuesday and she was picked up at her office on Alfred Street, just a few blocks from the jail. She was taken into custody without incident, and according to the report, she “jokingly” said, the arrest would be good word of mouth business and laughed as she entered the jail. Hayden spent just under two hours in custody before she was released on $5,000 bond.

 

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