Umatilla

FHP Releases More Information on Rollover Crash that Killed 2 Teens Near Leesburg

LEESBURG, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol has released more information on a crash that killed two teens near Leesburg Monday night.

FHP said two adult males were killed Monday night, but an early Tuesday morning press release stated the crash victims were a 17-year-old male of Leesburg and a 16-year-old male of Umatilla.

The 17-year-old male was driving a 2016 Jeep Wrangler eastbound on Goose Prairie Road when it attempted to pass a 2005 Ford F-150 in a no-passing zone shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.

The Wrangler entered the westbound lane and then tried to reenter the eastbound lane due to oncoming traffic. The right rear of the Wrangler collided with the front left of the F-150 and the Wrangler overcorrected, traveled across both lanes, overturned several times and struck a wire fence. The driver and the passenger, a 16-year-old male of Umatilla, were pronounced deceased on the scene. They were both wearing their seatbelts, Crescenzi said.

Inside Lake is working to confirm the identities of the teens.

The F-150 driver, a 38-year-old Umatilla man, was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.

FHP Releases More Information on Rollover Crash that Killed 2 Teens Near Leesburg Read More »

Tracking App Helps Nab Accused Umatilla Teenaged Armed Robber

UMATILLA, Fla.—A tracking app helped nab an accused teenaged armed robber earlier this week, according to an arrest affidavit.

Juan “Slugga” Gomez Jr., 16, of Umatilla, is accused of robbing two victims of $500 on Orange Circle in Lady Lake Sunday. The victims told Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies a masked male suspect pointed a gun at them and demanded money, and a second male who was not wearing a mask helped him, the affidavit states.

The victims identified Gomez through social media and LSCO found that he attended Umatilla High School. Gomes was secured and detained at UHS Monday, where he was interviewed by an LCSO detective. He denied being in Lady Lake and taking part in the robbery and refused to give the detective a DNA sample, according to the affidavit.

Gomez’ father responded to the school and told LCSO he has a tracking app and it showed Gomez was in Lady Lake around the time of the robbery. Gomez then confessed to the crime but said he did not get any money; he refused to identify he accomplice. Gomez was arrested for armed robbery and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Tracking App Helps Nab Accused Umatilla Teenaged Armed Robber Read More »

Social Media Dispute Between Umatilla and Apopka Teens Erupts into Chase, Gun Found

UMATILLA, Fla.— A dispute between teenagers that began over social media erupted into a chase and eventual arrest Thursday after one teen admitted a gun found in a truck was his, according to an arrest affidavit.

Law enforcement received information that a large fight was going to occur between Umatilla teens and Apopka teens over a social media dispute. A video showed a teen brandishing a black pistol with an extended magazine from inside what appeared to be a Dodge Ram, according to the affidavit.

Umatilla High School Principal Brent Frazier sent out a voice message to parents and guardians at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in reference to the video. In the call, Frazier said a student came forward with the video and it showed a male holding a gun, “no threat accompanied the video” and extra law enforcement officers would be on the UHS campus Friday.  (Listen to full message below.)

After UHS dismissal Thursday, law enforcement began working to prevent the fight between the two groups of teens and they learned a group of Apopka juveniles was chasing a Umatilla juvenile to start a fight. The chase went outside the city limits and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of Umatilla Police Department, the affidavit states.

A black Dodge Ram was identified as the vehicle chasing the Umatilla teen and UPD performed a traffic stop on Twin Ponds Road east of Skyline Drive, just outside of the city limits around 7:30 p.m. All of the occupants were removed from the truck and upon searching the truck, a black Taurus pistol “matching the likeness of the pistol viewed in the social media posts,” was found in the pocket of the passenger side door.

A 16-year-old male, of Apopka, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the Ram, first denied ownership of the gun, but later admitted it after he was positively identified as the subject in the social media video. He said his friend asked him to bring the gun to the fight in case the Umatilla juveniles brought guns, according to the affidavit.

He was arrested for possession of a firearm and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice; his name is not being released because the charge is a misdemeanor.

Social Media Dispute Between Umatilla and Apopka Teens Erupts into Chase, Gun Found Read More »

Lake-Sumter State College Foundation Honors Hall of Fame Recipients and Distinguished Alumni Tuesday Night, Including Inside Lake’s Own Marilyn Aciego

LEESBURG, Fla.—The Lake-Sumter State College Foundation honored its Distinguished Alumni and Hall of Fame recipients Tuesday night in a ceremony held at the Everett A. Kelly Convocation Center at the college’s Leesburg campus.

Nine individuals and a community organization were recognized for their achievements and contributions to the community in front of a large crowd that enjoyed a three-course dinner and video testimonials from the recipients.

Each year, the LSSC Foundation Board of Directors select the recipients from nominations made by the public to receive distinguished alumni awards. For the first time its 12-year history, two people were awarded the prestigious Professional Achievement Award, and one of the recipients was Inside Lake’s Publisher Marilyn Aciego.

Aciego discovered her passion for journalism at Lake-Sumter State College after taking a media class and later became editor of both The Angler and The Odyssey, LSSC’s student publications. She was hired by the Daily Commercial while she was still a student at LSSC and worked her way up to the lead cops and courts reporter. She covered numerous stories that gained national interest, including the death of beloved Sheriff Chris Daniels, a murder committed by identical twins and the disappearance of Trenton Duckett. Aciego’s coverage of these stories lead to appearances on Nancy Grace dozens of times and an episode of Evil Twins on Investigation Discovery.

Lake-Sumter State College Foundation 2023 Hall of Fame recipient Toni Upchurch and Distinguished Alumni recipient Marilyn Aciego.

She left the Daily Commercial in 2009 and began working for an international media organization in an entry-level position and was named Florida bureau chief just three years later. In 2010, she joined recently-retired attorney James Hope to write local stories for Hope’s Lake Legal News magazine, rising to editor-in-chief and then partnering with Hope to start the online edition that focused on breaking crime and public safety news.

In 2021, Aciego and Hope dissolved their partnership and Aciego rebranded Lake Legal News to Inside Lake and began covering general news along with crime news.

“Lake County was becoming a news desert,” Aciego said. “I knew it was time to start Inside Lake.

It was these achievements that earned Aciego the prestigious Professional Achievement Award and Tuesday night she shared that honor with Sandra Wilson, a 1989 graduate of LSSC.

 

Lake-Sumter State College Foundation Distinguished Alumni and Hall of Fame 2023

  • Marilyn Aciego—Distinguished Alumni, Professional Achievement Award
  • Sandra Wilson— Distinguished Alumni, Professional Achievement Award
  • Pat Atley— Distinguished Alumni, Scholar Award
  • Christine Boodhoo— Distinguished Alumni, Valor Award
  • Juliana Green— Distinguished Alumni, Community Engagement Award
  • Andrew LoFaro—Distinguished Alumni, Graduate of the Last Decade Award
  • Toni Upchurch— Hall of Fame, Faculty Award
  • Kevin Yurasek— Hall of Fame, Staff Award
  • Patrick Ryan— Hall of Fame, Athletics Award
  • The Live Well Foundation of South Lake— Hall of Fame, Community Partner Award

Lake-Sumter State College Foundation Honors Hall of Fame Recipients and Distinguished Alumni Tuesday Night, Including Inside Lake’s Own Marilyn Aciego 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 »

Head-On Collision Kills Umatilla Man, Shuts Down SR 46 Friday

SORRENTO, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is on scene of a crash that killed a Umatilla man and shut down State Road 46 in both directions.

The preliminary investigation revealed a 2009 Hyundai Sonata being driven by a 42-year-old Umatilla man was traveling westbound on State Road 46 near Wekiva Pines Boulevard around 5:40 p.m. when he veered into the eastbound lane and collided with 2022 Ford E-350 being driven by a 49-year-old Deltona man, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said.

The Umatilla man was transported to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford, where he was pronounced deceased. The Deltona man and his passenger, a 14-year-old male, were also transported to HCA Lake Monroe Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash shut down State Road 46 between County Road 46A and Osprey Hammock Trail and it was still shut down at press time.

Head-On Collision Kills Umatilla Man, Shuts Down SR 46 Friday Read More »

Potentially Contaminated Gas Sold in Lady Lake and Umatilla, Officials Warn

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—The Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) is warning consumers of potentially contaminated gas sold at numerous gas stations, including two different Lake County locations over the weekend.

“The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has identified a potentially widespread fuel contamination caused by human error at the Port of Tampa. Fuel purchased after 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, at stations supplied by CITGO from the Port of Tampa has a strong likelihood of being contaminated,” it said in a press release.

The gas stations impacted in Lake County are BJ’s Wholesale, 13585 Northeast 86th Path, Lady Lake and Choice Food & Gas, 310 North Central Avenue, Umatilla. FDACS relies on CITGO to provide a list of the impacted gas stations and more stations may be added. The stations have been asked to stop selling gas until the contaminated gas has been removed and the tanks cleaned, according to FDACS.

Contaminated gas can damage engines and cause vehicles and generators not to operate properly. FDACS has opened its consumer hotline, if you believe you purchased contaminated gas, call 1-800-HELP-FLA or visit www.fdacs.gov Consumers can also file a claim with the CITGO Good Gas Guarantee Program by visiting https://www.citgo.com/contact-us.

Potentially Contaminated Gas Sold in Lady Lake and Umatilla, Officials Warn Read More »

Man Arrested for Attacking Man with Metal Pipe at Umatilla Business

UMATILLA, Fla.—An Altoona man is being held in the Lake County Jail on $16,000 bond after allegedly striking another man in the head with a metal pipe at a Umatilla business.

Shortly before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Umatilla Police Department responded to Kerr’s Tires, 501 North Central Avenue, Umatilla on a report of a fight in progress. A witness said a fight occurred between Jess Robert Kerr, 51, and another man outside the business.

The victim told police he saw Kerr wearing his wife’s hat and had a lighter that should have been in the victim’s car. He said he confronted Kerr, they got into a physical altercation and Kerr picked up a metal pipe and hit him in the head. Kerr then fled the scene on foot, according to the affidavit.

The victim had a large laceration above his right ear and a small laceration on the back of his head, the arresting officer noted in the affidavit.

A second victim told UPD Kerr scratched “fat boy” on the driver’s side door of his truck and also put a 3-inch screw in the driver’s side front tire.

Kerr was located at Palmetto Street and Umatilla Boulevard and arrested for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, burglary and criminal mischief.

Man Arrested for Attacking Man with Metal Pipe at Umatilla Business Read More »

Alachua County Wrong-Way Crash Leaves Umatilla Woman in Critical Condition

ALACHUA COUNTY, Florida—A Umatilla woman suffered critical injuries following a wrong-way crash Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The 31-year-old woman was driving a white SUV northbound in the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 301 near County Road 325 shortly before 10 a.m. Friday, when she collided with a tractor-trailer traveling southbound and being driven by a 33-year-old Jacksonville man. Both vehicles swerved to avoid the crash and it caused a T-bone impact, FHP said in a press release.

The woman was airlifted to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville with life-threatening injuries; the tractor-trailer driver was not injured.

Alachua County Wrong-Way Crash Leaves Umatilla Woman in Critical Condition Read More »

Former Lake County Firefighter Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Young Boy

TAVARES, Florida—A jury has found a former Lake County firefighter guilty of sexually battering and molesting a young boy 15 years ago.

Steven Trent Ellis, 52, of Umatilla was arrested in July 2019 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after a tip and subsequent search warrant revealed multiple images of child pornography on his computer. Following his arrest, “several” individuals came forward and reported he had sexually abused them, according to a probable cause affidavit.

FDLE met with a victim in 2019 who said he had been abused by Ellis four to five times in 2008 when he was under 12 years old; his exact age is redacted from the affidavit. The boy and his family reported the abuse to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in 2008 and the case remained open for more than 10 years pending further corroborating evidence.

Steven Ellis is seen here in his 2019 mugshot.

The statements the victim made in his original complaint in 2008 were consistent with statements he made in 2019; he told agents what Ellis did to him in great detail and said it happened at the home Ellis lived in on Fishermans Road in Paisley at the time.

In October 2019, Ellis was charged with sexual battery on a child under 12 and lewd or lascivious molestation, in addition to the child pornography charges. In 2020, he pleaded no contest to the child pornography charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in April 2021, and on Monday, Ellis stood trial for two counts of sexual battery on a child under 12 and one count of lewd or lascivious molestation. He was found guilty by a jury on all three counts and sentenced to life in prison.

Former Lake County Firefighter Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Young Boy Read More »

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