MARION COUNTY, Fla.—A Lady Lake woman was killed Monday morning after losing control of an SUV and crashing into a tree, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The 49-year-old woman was southbound on Southeast 47th Avenue north of Southeast Highway 42 when she lost control for an unknown reason, traveled into the northbound land and struck a tree off the west shoulder around 9 a.m. Monday, FHP Lt. P.V. Riordan said.
She was pronounced deceased on the scene and was not wearing a seatbelt, Riordan said.
CITRUS COUNTY, Fla.—A Lady Lake man is accused of being drunk, causing a crash that killed a man and fleeing the scene Sunday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Robert Brandon Vanzant, 31, of Lady Lake was speeding southbound in a Ford F-150 on North Carl G. Rose Highway and passing traffic on the shoulder shortly before 2:30 p.m. Sunday, FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said.
Vanzant merged back into traffic near East Spruce Drive and rear-ended a Honda Accord being driven by a 62-year-old Lecanto man. The impact propelled the Honda across the road, where it struck a bridge rail and then collided with a second Ford F-150 being driven northbound by a 42-year-old Beverly Hills man.
The Lecanto man was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The Beverly Hills man suffered minor injuries.
Vanzant, who was not injured, left the scene, dumped his truck at a nearby gas station and fled on foot into a pasture where he was apprehended by Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Gaskins said.
Vanzant was later arrested by FHP for DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash with death, leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and driving while license suspended with death.
EUSTIS, Fla.—An event to benefit a Lake County Sheriff’s Office school resource deputy who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year is scheduled for Saturday.
What started as chest pain in 2022 turned into a terrifying diagnosis last summer for LCSO Cpl. Adam Tytler. In November 2022, Tytler went to a cardiologist for ongoing chest pain, and after a EKG showed his heart was in good shape, the cardiologist told him the pain was likely gastrointestinal. The next month, on Christmas Eve, Tytler discovered a swollen lymph node on his neck and by February the lymph node had not gotten any better. He was also suffering from a sinus infection at the time and went to his primary care doctor for treatment and mentioned the lymph node. The doctor chalked it up to the infection, but during the spring Tytler’s chest pain continued and had also moved to his back, and then he began to find swollen lymph nodes on his chest.
Tytler went through a battery of tests and upon reviewing the results, his doctor said it was likely cancer. Tytler sought a second opinion from the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and his fears were confirmed when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma in June 2023.
Tytler, his wife Tiffany, and two daughters, Shay 17, Lily, 14, are currently splitting their time between Mount Dora and Tampa for treatment and it is taking a financial toll on the family while already dealing with an emotional roller coaster. Tytler said he came forward with his struggle because cancer affects millions of people and often they go through it alone.
“I would have given up if it weren’t for my faith, my family and the support from the school resource deputy unit,” Tytler said. “I only wanted for those who are struggling to know they are not alone. Not now. Not ever and to never give up.”
Tytler’s struggle inspired Shannon Cook, organizer of Lake County’s annual Back the Blue Walk, and LCSO Lt. Kristin Thompson to create the benefit scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at That Place, 925 North Bay Street, Eustis.
Dinners will be available for purchase, along with an auction of numerous items, including a Back the Blue basket with items from multiple Lake County law enforcement agencies, tickets to various events, like New Kids on the Block concert tickets and Richard Petty Driving Experience, along with a Yeti cooler packed with alcohol, various craft items made by local residents, a high-end fishing pole and numerous other items. A poker scramble is also scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at Gator Harley-Davidson, 1745 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg, and will include five stops, ending at That Place, Cook told Inside Lake.
Tytler has spent nearly his entire adult life at LCSO, and most recently worked as a corporal in the school resource deputy unit. He prevented a shooting on the Eustis High School campus during the 2018-2019 school year and was awarded the Lake County Officer of the Year in 2019 for his efforts.
He said he is excited he has only one treatment left, and it has been a difficult journey. “Truthfully, it’s been challenging and difficult treatment-wise, not just for me but my family also,” Tytler said.
He will have to wait until after the new year to find out if he is cancer-free, he said.
Tytler told Inside Lake saying thank you to all those who have helped him, and contributed to the benefit will never be enough.
“My family and I are so appreciative and overwhelmed of the outpouring of love and support from everyone. Especially from people I’ve never met,” he said.
THE VILLAGES, Fla.—The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a Lady Lake man who has not been seen since Tuesday morning, it said in a social media post.
Ryan Kenney, 52, who has a history of medical issues, was last seen Tuesday morning on his silver bicycle around the area of Lake Sumter Landing. He is described at a white male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown plaid shirt and shorts, according to SCSO. If you see Kenney or know his whereabouts, call SCSO at 352-793-2621.
LADY LAKE, Fla.—A Pennsylvania man wanted for murder in Virginia was arrested by Lady Lake Police Department early Wednesday morning.
Maurice T. Massey, 29, was pulled over for traveling 51 miles per hour in a 40 miles-per-hour zone on U.S. Highway 27/441 near Griffin View Drive at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to Lady Lake Communications Director Elisha Pappacoda.
LLPD Cpl. Heather Couch conducted the traffic stop and after a routine driver license check, Massey was found to have a warrant for second-degree murder out of Virginia, Pappacoda said.
Massey, of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, was driving a white Hyundai Sonata with a Virginia license plate and when he was taken into custody, he reportedly told LLPD he knew what the warrant was for, but it was “all wrong.” He said he only witnessed a murder, according to the report.
“I’d like to commend our officers for their diligence and remind the community that even routine traffic stops can make a difference in the safety of our community,” said LLPD Chief Steve Hunt.
Massey was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on no bond.
THE VILLAGES, Fla.—A 89-year-old man is in serious condition after driving his golf cart into the path of a car Tuesday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The 89-year-old man of The Villages was driving a golf cart northbound on a golf cart path shortly before 8 a.m. when he turned left in front of a car near Woodridge Drive in Sumter County, according to FHP.
The golf cart driver struck the left side of the car, being driven by a 69-year-old Lady Lake man. The golf cart driver was seriously injured; the Lady Lake man and his 69-year-old female passenger were not injured, FHP said.
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.
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.
LADY LAKE, Florida—A Lake City man suspected of a one-day shoplifting spree at Best Buy stores in Gainesville and Ocala was arrested by Lady Lake Police Department Friday after fleeing from officers in Best Buy parking lot Friday, according to an arrest affidavit.
LLPD responded to Best Buy, 552 North Highway 27/441, Lady Lake to meet with the manager about theft suspects who had already stolen from Best Buy stores in Gainesville and Ocala. The manager believed the suspects were headed to Lady Lake and provided officers with still photos of a white male wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and white high-top shoes stealing a laptop. The manager also provided a photo of the suspect leaving in a dark-colored Cadillac sedan with a partial view of the license plate, the affidavit states.
As officers were leaving, they spotted a car matching the suspect vehicle and the license plate matched the partial plate in the photo. A black male exited the driver’s door and a white male, later identified as Clifford Charles Boyette-Carter, 26, exited the passenger door. The pair ran toward Papa John’s and China Max and officers found Boyette-Carter near China Max. He attempted to walk away and was cut off by an LLPD cruiser and when a sergeant started to speak to him, he kicked off his white high-top shoes and fled. Boyette-Carter ran north across Rolling Acres Road, hopped a fence, ran into the Oak Meadows neighborhood, doubled back and again ran toward Rolling Acres Road and then hopped a second fence and ran through the main gate of The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake.
The LLPD sergeant called for the school to be placed on lockdown at 2:15 p.m. while parents were lined up to pick up their children. Boyette-Carter fled down the parent pick-up line and tried to enter an occupied vehicle, according to the affidavit. He continued to flee, hopped another fence and entered the courtyard area, ran through metal doors and ran back toward the parent pickup area. He was finally tackled by a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy who responded to assist LLPD. Boyette-Carter was taken into custody and identified himself to officers and deputies. He said he ran because he had warrants from Jacksonville and did not want to be taken into custody.
The laptops allegedly stolen from Best Buy in Ocala and Gainesville were found in the vehicle Boyette-Cater was riding in and he said he really did not know the black male driving the vehicle, but provided his name, the name of the mother of his child and the name of the registered owner of the vehicle, the arresting officer noted.
Boyette-Carter was arrested for resisting arrest, loitering and prowling, trespassing on school grounds and interfering with school administration functions. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $3,500 bond.
LADY LAKE, Florida—The young man shot and killed early Friday morning has been identified.
At 12:45 a.m. Friday, Lady Lake Police Department responded to a home in the 100 block of Caroline Street on a report of gunshots and found Bryson Leverette, 20, of Leesburg, with severe injuries from gunshot wounds, according to Elisha Pappacoda, Communications Director for the Town of Lady Lake.
Leverette was pronounced deceased on the scene and a second person suffering from gunshot wounds approached officers and was transported to an area hospital for treatment, Pappacoda said. No other information has been released. If you have information on the double shooting, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
