Umatilla

BREAKING NEWS: 911 down in Lake County

TAVARES, Fla.—Lake County Public Safety Communications (911) is experiencing intermittent outages due to Hurricane Debby. Residents may not be able to reach dispatchers in an emergency. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call the non-emergency number at 352-343-2101.

BREAKING NEWS: 911 down in Lake County Read More »

LCSO releases names of deputies who survived ambush Friday night

TAVARES, Fla.—The two Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies who survived after being shot in the line of duty Friday have now been identified.

Master Deputy Bradley Link and Master Deputy Harold Howell were shot Friday night while conducting a well-being check at a home on Brookside Drive in unincorporated Eustis. Link was trapped in the home and Deputy Stefano Gargano was part of a rescue team put in place to extract Link from the home.

Howell, 41, was shot in the arm and is currently awaiting surgery; he is listed in stable condition. He began working for LCSO in 2005 and has been a K9 handler since 2011.

Gargano, 28, was shot numerous times while attempting to rescue Link. “He underwent surgery overnight and was scheduled for a second surgery this afternoon. His condition was last listed as critical,” LCSO Lt. John Herrell said late Saturday afternoon.

Link succumbed to his injuries early Saturday morning after being rescued from the home by LCSO’s SWAT team.

Previous stories: Deputy killed in the line of duty identified – Inside Lake

Lake County Sheriff: 3 deputies shot, 1 killed Friday night outside Eustis in a “hail of gunfire” – Inside Lake

 

LCSO releases names of deputies who survived ambush Friday night Read More »

BREAKING NEWS: Fatal crash shuts down 2 Umatilla roads Tuesday

UMATILLA, Fla.—A Tuesday morning crash killed a Umatilla man and sent another to the hospital, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Shortly before 6:15 a.m., a 2008 Toyota Tacoma being driven by a 40-year-old Umatilla man was stopped southbound at the stop sign at Pine Street and County Road 450A in unincorporated Umatilla. The Tacoma failed to yield to a 1996 Honda Civic being driven westbound on County Road 450A by a 32-year-old Umatilla man, FHP said.

The front of the Tacoma collided with the left side the Civic, seriously injuring the driver of the Tacoma. The driver of the Civic was transported to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, where he was pronounced deceased, and the Tacoma driver was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford with serious injuries.

At press time, there was a roadblock at all four directions of the intersection, Trooper Migdalisis Garcia said. The crash remains under investigation.

BREAKING NEWS: Fatal crash shuts down 2 Umatilla roads Tuesday Read More »

Ham Radio Field Day set for this weekend

TAVARES, Fla.—Each June, more than 40,000 amateur radio operators, known as “hams” set up temporary transmitting stations in public places  throughout North America to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill, and service to our communities and nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933 and remains the most popular event in ham radio. The competitive aspect of Field Day is to contact as many other amateur stations as possible between 2 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

The public is invited to attend the event in Tavares this weekend that will showcase mobile command vehicles from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Amateur Radio Association (LARA.) It will be held at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Training Bureau and Lake Tech Institute of Public Safety Weapons and Driving Range, 13000 Frankies Road, Tavares.

LARA consistently wins top honors each year in Florida and North America. The club was established in 1952 by a local group of radio amateurs and now has a membership of over 150 “Hams.” LARA’s vast radio systems enable worldwide communications, amplifying the club’s impact and reach. For their life-saving work, hams worldwide have received commendations and international praise.

 

Ham Radio Field Day set for this weekend Read More »

Information finally released following search warrants executed on gaming facilities earlier this month

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—Only Inside Lake was on the scene earlier this month as Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives, in conjunction with the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) searched an internet gaming facility in unincorporated Umatilla, and LCSO has finally released information regarding that search warrant and three more.

On June 13, 2024, four search warrants were executed at different illegal gaming establishments in Lake County. Detectives with the Leesburg, Clermont, Eustis, and Mount Dora police departments also assisted with the investigation that stemmed from continued concerns that illegal gambling throughout Lake County leads to an increase in law enforcement calls for service, criminal activity, and other threats to public safety, LCSO spokesperson Chanel Martin said.

The Umatilla location was the site of an attempted armed robbery in August 2022; in that a incident a security guard was shot. No arrests have been made in that case.

“Illegal gambling establishments operate outside the legal, regulated market to exploit vulnerable Floridians. They are usually associated with organized crime, do not generate state tax revenue, and do not provide the same consumer protections or safeguards as legal gaming operators,” said Lou Trombetta, FGCC Executive Director.

Detectives seized approximately 170 gaming machines and approximately $211,000 from the Hot Spot,11145 U.S HWY 441, Tavares; Hot Spot, 11203 U.S. HWY 441, Tavares. Cyber Monkey. 23505 State Road 40, Astor and Hot Spot II, 37415 SR 19, Umatilla, according to Martin.

Detectives seized all illegal gaming devices and issued misdemeanor notices to appear in lieu of physical arrests to six operating employees. The citations were issued with reference to Florida State Statue 849.01, which states it is illegal to keep or maintain a gambling house.

Previous stories: Law enforcement investigating internet gaming facilities in unincorporated Umatilla and Tavares – Inside Lake

LCSO Searching for 2 Suspects After Security Guard was Shot in Attempted Robbery Wednesday Night – Inside Lake

Information finally released following search warrants executed on gaming facilities earlier this month Read More »

Law enforcement investigating internet gaming facilities in unincorporated Umatilla and Tavares

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—There is a large law enforcement presence at two internet gaming facilities, one in unincorporated Umatilla and one in unincorporated Tavares, Thursday morning and Inside Lake is working to find out why.

Inside Lake received multiple tips and was on the scene at Hotspot, 37415 State Road 19, Umatilla, briefly and witnessed several marked units from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at the business around 9:30 a.m. A tipster also said there was a law enforcement presence at another Hotspot, located at 11203 U.S. Highway 441, Tavares, near County Road 473.

“We’re working an investigation regarding those gaming establishments, the details of which will be released at a later date,” LCSO Lt. John Herrell told Inside Lake.

Law enforcement investigating internet gaming facilities in unincorporated Umatilla and Tavares Read More »

FWC: License-free freshwater fishing this weekend

FLORIDA—The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is hosting a license-free freshwater fishing weekend Saturday and Sunday

Florida residents and visitors of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to try recreational fishing this weekend and FWC has helpful resources for new anglers to get started.

Largemouth bass are Florida’s most popular freshwater fish and if you catch one 8 pounds or heavier, submit it to TrophyCatch. There is a special promotion this season where pink-tagged bass are swimming and worth extra prizes in five waterbodies across the state. Try your luck and you could even win sunglasses just for fishing in these five waters!

All other rules, such as seasons, bag and size limits apply during license-free fishing weekend.

Keep the fun going all year and buy a recreational freshwater fishing license, to renew or purchase a fishing license, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

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LCSO Investigating possible murder-suicide in Umatilla

UMATILLA, Fla. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what may be a murder-suicide in Umatilla Friday morning.

LCSO and Umatilla Police Department responded to a home at 44 South Kentucky Avenue around 5:30 a.m. after a complainant reported receiving a “suspicious text message,” according to a press release.

When law enforcement arrived, they found Tracy Bean, 50, and Ki’anna Lister, 25, both deceased. Today is Lister’s birthday, according to the birthdate released by LCSO.

PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

“The victims displayed signs of homicidal trauma, Lake County detectives are on scene investigating the possible murder-suicide,” according to the press release.

The relationship between Bean and Lister has not been confirmed, LCSO said, the investigation is ongoing.

Inside Lake spoke briefly with Bean’s family member on scene, and she did not want to be identified or make a public comment.

No other victims were found and there are no signs of danger to the public, LCSO said.

LCSO Investigating possible murder-suicide in Umatilla Read More »

FHP identifies Umatilla man killed in Astor early Wednesday

ASTOR, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the man killed in Astor early Wednesday morning.

Robert Sangster Jr., 26, of Umatilla, was standing in the westbound lane of State Road 40, near Blue Creek Lodge Road shortly after 4 a.m. when he was struck by a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee being driven by a 58-year-old Polk City woman. The woman swerved to avoid Sangster Jr., but the right side of the SUV collided with him. He was pronounced deceased on the scene. The woman was not injured and remained on scene, FHP said.

The crash closed State Road 40 for approximately five hours.

FHP identifies Umatilla man killed in Astor early Wednesday Read More »

Umatilla man killed in Astor early Wednesday morning; SR 40 shut down

Update: FHP identifies Umatilla man killed in Astor early Wednesday – Inside Lake

ASTOR, Fla.—A 26-year-old Umatilla man was killed Wednesday after he was struck by an SUV on State Road 40 in Astor, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Umatilla man was standing in the westbound lane of State Road 40 shortly after 4 a.m. when he was struck by 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee being driven by a 58-year-old Polk City woman.

The woman swerved to avoid the man, but the right side of the SUV struck him, killing him. His next of kin has not been notified. The Polk City woman was not injured and remained on scene, FHP said.

State Road 40 west of Blue Creek Lodge Road remained shut down in both directions at press time while troopers conduct their investigation.

Umatilla man killed in Astor early Wednesday morning; SR 40 shut down Read More »

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