Umatilla

No Arrests in Umatilla Murder Last Week, LCSO Developing Leads

UMATILLA Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is developing leads in the murder of a 31-year-old man Nov. 8, Lt. John Herrell told Inside Lake Wednesday.

Antwain “Lil Daddy” Hart was found shot in front of a home at 38946 Merrell Avenue last week in the Southside area of unincorporated Umatilla. He was transported to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares by Lake EMS, but died during transport, Herrell said. LCSO has not released many details in the case.

Hart’s rental vehicle, a white 2022 Jeep Cherokee was stolen at the time he was shot and found about 12 hours later behind First Church of God-Eustis, 1550 North Highway 19, Eustis by Eustis Police officers, EPD Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake last week. LCSO has not said if any evidence was found in the SUV.

Antwain “Lil Daddy” Hart was found shot in unincorporated Umatilla Nov. 8. Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives are developing leads.

Friends and family members of Hart expressed their sorrow through numerous social media posts following his death, and his celebration of life is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, First Baptist Church of Umatilla, 550 Hatfield Drive, Umatilla. His arrangements are being handled by Snow’s Funeral Ministry & Cremation Services in Ocala.

If you have information on Hart’s murder, call LCSO at 352-343-2101 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers may be eligible for a reward.  

No Arrests in Umatilla Murder Last Week, LCSO Developing Leads Read More »

Traffic Stop Leads to More than 100 Grams of Meth

UMATILLA, Florida—A painted taillight that caught the attention of a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy began a series of events that ended in a trip to jail for a DeLand man Friday night after he was found with more than 125 grams of methamphetamine.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, the deputy spotted a blue Mercedes with what the deputy thought was an inoperable taillight on State Road 19 south of Umatilla. As the deputy approached the car, it was apparent the lights were painted and the driver side taillight was painted darker, making it appear very dim, according to an arrest affidavit.

The deputy noticed the car’s high beam headlights were on and the driver failed to dim them as oncoming traffic approached. The car turned onto a side street and the deputy pulled off on the side of the road. Moments later, the car passed the deputy again, still with its high beams on and pulled into Circle K at State Road 19 and Ocala Street with the deputy close behind.

The deputy initiated a traffic stop and both the front passenger and rear passengers opened their doors. The deputy ordered them to remain in the car. The front passenger left his door ajar and the deputy spotted a fixed blade hatchet at his feet, the affidavit states, and he was removed from the car. Inside Lake is not naming either passenger because they were not charged with a crime.

While speaking with the passengers, LCSO noticed a glass pipe in the center console and a Umatilla Police officer arrived on scene to assist. LCSO asked the driver, Brandon Peter Torres, 36, to step out of the car and the deputy noticed a large clear bag protruding out of the front pocket of his hoodie. Torres was searched and found with a total of three bags of methamphetamine; one weighed 112 grams, the second weighed 15 grams and the smallest bag weighed just over 2 grams.

Torres was arrested for trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $51,000 bond.

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Fiery Crash Kills Tavares Woman in Umatilla Thursday Night

UMATILLA, Florida—A 39-year-old woman was speeding before she crashed her car into a tree and it burst into flames in unincorporated Umatilla, witnesses told the Florida Highway Patrol.

Around 9 p.m. Thursday, the Tavares woman was driving a 2009 Chevy Malibu northbound on West 4th Avenue approaching West 7th Street when she lost control, ran off the roadway and struck a tree, causing the car to become engulfed in flames, according to FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi. Witnesses told troopers the woman was speeding before the crash.

PHOTO: Sean Curry

She was transported to Central Florida Regional Medical Center in Sanford, where she later died, Crescenzi said.

This was second Lake County resident killed in traffic crash in less than 16 hours. Shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday, a crash on Florida’s Turnpike in Orange County killed a tow truck driver from Poinciana and a Groveland man as Hurricane Nicole made its way across Orange County.

Both crashes remain under investigation, Crescenzi said.

2 Killed in Turnpike Crash Early Thursday, Including Tow Truck Driver

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LCSO Identifies Man Killed Near Umatilla Tuesday

UMATILLA, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man killed in unincorporated Umatilla Tuesday afternoon. 

Antwain Jamar Hart, 31, aka “Lil Daddy” was found shot in front of a home at 38946 Merrell Avenue in the Southside area of unincorporated Umatilla around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to LCSO Lt. John Herrell. Hart was transported to the hospital, but died before he made it there, Herrell said Tuesday night.

Hart’s rental vehicle, a white 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen during the incident and found in the early morning hours Wednesday at First Church of God-Eustis 1550 North Highway 19 by Eustis Police officers, EPD Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake.

LCSO investigates after a man was found shot in unincorporated Umatilla Tuesday, PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

Numerous people posted on social media Tuesday, expressing their sorrow for Hart’s death. 

LCSO is actively investigating the case and asking anyone with information to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers may be eligible for a reward. 

LCSO Identifies Man Killed Near Umatilla Tuesday Read More »

Man Shot Near Umatilla Tuesday, Dies On the Way to the Hospital

UMATILLA, Florida—A man is dead following a shooting in unincorporated Umatilla Tuesday afternoon, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. John Herrell.

LCSO responded to a report of shots fired at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday around Merrell Avenue in the area known as Southside, and when they arrived, they found a man shot at a home at 38946 Merrell Avenue. Paramedics transported the man, but he died on the way to the hospital, Herrell said.

AdventHealth Waterman was placed on lockdown for a short amount of time, standard procedure when a shooting victim is brought to a hospital. The shooting also delayed the release of both Umatilla Middle School and Umatilla Elementary School, according to concerned parents who reached out to Inside Lake.  

A man was found shot at a house on Merrell Avenue in unincorporated Umatilla Tuesday afternoon. He died on the way to the hospital PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

At least a dozen law enforcement officers responded, including LCSO and Umatilla Police and numerous onlookers were near the scene about 45 minutes after the call was received. No arrests have been made.

Friends and family members have identified the man to Inside Lake, but we are awaiting confirmation from LCSO, who did not release the man’s name Tuesday night. Sources have also said the motive was robbery, but that has not been confirmed by LCSO.

If you have information on the shooting, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

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Umatilla Teen Driving Mercedes Busted by Off Duty Deputy for Impersonating a Cop

EUSTIS, Florida—A teenager is being held on $6,000 bond after flipping on red and blue lights as he pulled over near a disabled vehicle Tuesday night—in front of a Lake County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy.

Joshua Michael Mazenka, 18, of Umatilla, was driving a black 2011 Mercedes on State Road 19 in Eustis around 10 p.m. Tuesday when he saw a disabled vehicle, turned on his illegal red and blue lights and pulled over, according to an arrest affidavit.

An LCSO detention deputy on his way home, saw the disabled vehicle and as he attempted to pull over, the Mercedes pulled in front of him with the flashing red and blue lights in the windshield, the deputy told Eustis Police. The uniformed deputy stepped out of his vehicle and when Mazenka saw him, he reportedly said, “Oh (expletive,)” and fled the scene in his Mercedes. The deputy called dispatch and began following Mazenka through a neighborhood and eventually Mazenka stopped in the parking lot of Winn Dixie at State Road 19 and County Road 44, the affidavit states.

EPD officers responded and when Mazenka first saw them, he blurted out, “I (expletive) up,” according to the affidavit. Officers observed a light bar in the back window attached with suction cups, in addition to a light bar in the backseat with one suction cup attached, and one still stuck to the windshield. The light bars were very similar to those used in law enforcement vehicles, the arresting officer noted in the affidavit.

Mazenka agreed to speak with officers, and he told them he was traveling north on State Road 19 when he saw a vehicle stopped with its hazard lights on. He turned on his red and blue lights “for safety” and pulled over to help.

“The way he used (the lights) is the same way (police) would use them,” EPD Capt. Jon Fahning told Inside Lake.

Mazenka said he saw the detention deputy behind him and he “knew he was in trouble” so he fled the scene. Then he decided it was best to stop and he pulled over at Winn Dixie, he told police. He also said LCSO had pulled him over recently; in that incident in September, he was pulled over for driving recklessly in Leesburg and the deputy observed red and blue lights in the front and back, along with lights in the grill. The deputy told Mazenka to remove the lights and he was given a ticket for following too closely.

Mazenka told officers he bought the lights on Amazon.

He was arrested for impersonating a police officer and having red and blue lights on a vehicle and was transported to the Lake County Jail. The Mercedes was towed and when the car when inventoried, an airsoft pistol was found that was an exact replica of a Glock 17, in addition to a pellet rifle.

When officers returned to the original scene to help the disabled vehicle and its occupants, it had already been towed, according to the affidavit.

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Tavares Police and LCSO Join Forces for Operation Aware

Operation Aware will provide wristbands and a database for first responders and the special needs community.

TAVARES, Florida—Two law enforcement agencies have joined forces to provide a new tool to the community that will give first responders valuable information when responding to calls for service in the special needs community.

Nearly a year in the making, Tavares Police Department began its Operation Aware initiative in November 2021 and has since teamed up with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to provide wristbands to members of the community that may require a different response from law enforcement.

“We are big on community policing,” TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan told Inside Lake last year. “There are always ways we can be better,” she said, “and there are always opportunities for the community to teach us how to better serve them.”

Operation Aware is a “total approach” to the issues facing the special needs community and will provide education, outreach and follow up,” Sullivan said.

Newly-appointed Tavares Police Chief Sarah Coursey worked with Sullivan to get this program up and running. “Operation Aware is near and dear to my heart; it gives us the opportunity to serve our community in a unique way when our response requires a different approach,” Coursey told Inside Lake.

The wristbands are available for community members who have intellectual and developmental disorders, including, but not limited to, autism, dementia. PTSD and Alzheimer’s, according to Sullivan. Loved ones and caregivers are encouraged to reach out to TPD or LCSO and register special needs individuals to get them a wristband and enter them into the database.  

The bright blue wristbands will immediately let law enforcement officers know they are interacting with an individual with special needs, and provide them with vital information including names, addresses, emergency contacts and medical conditions. Officers and dispatchers will have access to the information and individual addresses will be flagged so the officer is aware of any special circumstances before they arrive to the call. Officers will know if the individual is non-verbal, has a sensitivity to lights and sirens and any other pertinent information that would be helpful to officers. They will also help reunification by giving officers and deputies information immediately that can be shared with media outlets and on social media, Sullivan said.  

The wristbands will also be a tool for the public; they will have a number and a QR code that can be scanned and will inform the public to call 9-1-1. The wristband never needs to be charged.    To register, please visit https://tavares.org/1327/Operation-Aware or https://lcso.org/oa/

People Helping People, Tavares Police Department Creates Special Needs Database

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Man Arrested in Attempted Murder of Security Guard Wednesday

UMATILLA, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has made one in arrest in the attempted murder of a security guard during an armed robbery earlier this week.

Travontae Shavar Harley, 33, of Mount Dora is accused of entering Hot Spot, 37415 State Road 19, Umatilla shortly before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with an unidentified black male. The security guard of the internet gaming location, commonly known as “fish games” immediately engaged the pair and the security guard was shot. He was airlifted to a local hospital and his condition is unknown.

The pair of robbers fled the scene in a dark-colored pickup truck and were not apprehended.

According to an arrest affidavit, another internet gaming location was robbed recently, and a phone was found in the path of the robbers’ getaway vehicle. A data extraction was performed on the phone that revealed images of cards belonging to Harley, along with the owner account name similar to Harley’s social media accounts.

Travontae Harley PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

LCSO Street Crimes Unit pulled over a 2020 Nissan Frontier Friday and Harley was taken into custody. A receipt to a gas station was found and surveillance video showed Harley and another black male entering the parking lot of a gas station in a black Frontier about three hours before the shooting. The pair is seen walking into the store wearing pants and shoes that matched the robbers, according to the affidavit.

Harley was taken into custody and arrested for attempted murder while engaged in a robbery, armed robbery, false name to law enforcement, possession of amphetamine and two counts of violation of probation for stalking and criminal mischief. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.

LCSO is still searching for the second subject, if you have information, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.

Man Arrested in Attempted Murder of Security Guard Wednesday Read More »

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

Story has been updated with 911 calls added.

DONA VISTA, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two black males who shot a security guard during an attempted robbery at an internet gaming location Wednesday night, according to newly-released information.

Two black males entered Hot Spot, 37415 State Road 19, Eustis around 6:30 p.m. and fired an undisclosed number of shots, striking the security guard, LCSO Lt. Fred Jones said.  The victim was airlifted to a local hospital; his condition is unknown at this time.  

The pair of would-be robbers, described only as black males, fled the scene have not been apprehended.

LCSO, Eustis Police Department, Umatilla Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol all responded to the scene and set a perimeter up; officers from several agencies were posted on State Road 19 and County Road 19A near the scene, following the shooting.

Numerous arrests, including minor drug possession and trafficking, have been made in the area in the last several months and many suspects told EPD officers they were leaving Hot Spot, commonly known as fish games. Hot Spot is located just outside of Eustis’ city limits.

The investigation is ongoing, if you have information call Crimeline, 1-800-423-TIPS.

LCSO released 911 calls made after the shooting of a security guard Wednesday night.
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One Person Shot in Attempted Armed Robbery

DONA VISTA, Florida—One person was shot Wednesday night during an attempted robbery at a popular internet gaming location, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Fred Jones.

A black male entered Hot Spot, 37415 State Road 19, Eustis around 6:30 p.m. and fired an undisclosed number of shots, striking one person, Jones said.  The victim was airlifted to a local hospital.

The suspect was not apprehended.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Eustis Police officers set up a perimeter following an attempted robbery and shooting Wednesday night. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

LCSO, Eustis Police Department, Umatilla Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol all responded and a perimeter was set up; officers from several agencies were posted on State Road 19 and County Road 19A near the scene.

EPD has made numerous firearms and drug arrests, including minor possession and trafficking, of individuals who told officers they were leaving Hot Spot, commonly known as fish games. Several people who live nearby, and asked not to be named, said the location should be shut down because of the type of people it attracts.  

The investigation into the attempted robbery and shooting is ongoing, if you have information call Crimeline, 1-800-423-TIPS.

One Person Shot in Attempted Armed Robbery Read More »

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