Lake County Schools

Leesburg High freshman arrested after loaded gun found in backpack

LEESBURG, Fla.—A Leesburg High School freshman was arrested for possessing a loaded, stolen gun Thursday after a Lake County Sheriff’s Office vape-detection dog alerted on the student’s backpack.

K9 Samba and her handler Erica Samborski assisted Leesburg Police Department school resource officers with a prescheduled visit to LHS for a routine check for contraband and illegal items. Samba alerted on a backpack in the media room where students often leave their belongings, according to LCSO. No students were present at the time of the search and after Samba’s alert, the backpack was searched and a loaded 9mm Glock was found. The gun was one of two that were stolen from an unlocked vehicle that was burglarized in Lake County. Three vapes and a cigar were also found in the backpack, LCSO said.

“Leesburg School Resource Officers took possession of the firearm and arrested the 9th grade student. To ensure the safety of all students, Leesburg officers conducted a thorough search of the immediate area and added an officer to the campus for additional security throughout the remainder of the day,” LPD Lt. Shannon Walsh said in an email.  “This remains an active investigation, and Leesburg detectives are conducting further inquiries.”

Earlier this month, K9 Samba was honored with the Back the Blue Award by then-Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. Moody was appointed to the U.S. Senate Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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Police: Leesburg High principal arrested for DUI, refused breath test

CLERMONT, Fla.—A Lake County Schools principal is facing a DUI charge after a Clermont Police Department officer pulled him over for failing to maintain his lane, according to an arrest affidavit.

Michael Randolph, 38, principal of Leesburg High School, was spotted by CPD swerving and speeding on State Road 50 near Citrus Tower Boulevard in a white pickup truck shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday and officers pulled Randolph over less than three miles from his home. He provided his driver license and when asked for his registration and proof of insurance, he provided his registration and then handed an officer a second registration, the affidavit states.

The officer told him he had already provided his registration and still needed to show proof of insurance. Randolph asked to look for his phone with his proof of insurance, but was unable to find it, according to the affidavit.

Randolph, who was “very apologetic” as he spoke to officers, agreed to and performed field sobriety exercises, and was arrested following the exercises. He was transported to Clermont Police Department while an officer stayed with the vehicle, awaiting a tow truck. That officer conducted an inventory of Randolph’s truck and according to the affidavit, found open bottles of Smirnoff Vodka and Crown Royal Regal Apple and two plastic cups, warm to the touch.

Randolph refused breath tests upon arriving at Clermont Police Department and was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $1,000 bond.

Randolph was hired as the LHS principal in 2017, LCS Communication Sherri Owens said, and was awarded LCS Principal of the Year in 2021.

“The District was recently informed of the arrest of Leesburg High School Principal Michael Randolph for driving under the influence. Mr. Randolph has pled not guilty to the charges,” Owens said in an email. “The incident did not occur during a school activity or involve students or employees. The District takes these charges seriously and holds all of its leaders to high standards of personal conduct. However, Mr. Randolph has not been adjudicated guilty of the charges and the District will reserve judgment and further comment until conclusion of the judicial process.”

Michael Randolph, Leesburg High School principal, was chosen as Lake County Schools Principal of the Year in 2021. PHOTO: Lake County Schools

 

 

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BREAKING NEWS: Lake County Schools closed Thursday

TAVARES, Fla.- Lake County public schools will be closed Thursday due to Tropical Storm Helene, which is expected to be a hurricane when it makes landfall, according to Lake County Schools.

After-school activities on Wednesday are not cancelled and a decision will be made about Friday following Wednesday’s mid-day briefing, LCS said.

BREAKING NEWS: Lake County Schools closed Thursday Read More »

Lake County Schools high school graduations scheduled for this week and next week

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—Caps will be flying through the air this week and next as Lake County Schools seniors say goodbye to high school and hello to adulthood. Graduations are scheduled to begin Tuesday with Tavares High School and will end with Lake County Virtual School next week. Schools are listed below in alphabetical order.

East Ridge High School—9 a.m. Wednesday at UCF/Addition Arena

Eustis High School—9 a.m. Saturday, at Eustis High School Panther Stadium

Lake County Virtual School—6 p.m. May 23, at Mount Dora High School Auditorium

Lake Hills School—occurred May 1 at Lake Hills Gymnasium

Lake Minneola High School—7 p.m. Friday at UCF/Addition Arena

Lake Success Academy—3:30 p.m. Friday at Lake Success Academy

Leesburg High School—8 a.m. Saturday at Leesburg High School Stadium

Mount Dora High School—8 p.m. Thursday at Mount Dora High School Stadium

South Lake High School—7:30 p.m. Wednesday at UCF/Addition Arena

Tavares High School—7:30 p.m., Tuesday UCF/Addition Arena

Umatilla High School—7 p.m. Friday Grafton Center Elks Club

 

Lake County Schools high school graduations scheduled for this week and next week Read More »

2 Schools in Eustis Placed on Brief Lockdown Wednesday Morning

EUSTIS, Fla.—Eustis Police Department investigated two separate incidents that happened within minutes Wednesday morning, one of which caused two schools to go into a brief lockdown.

Around 7:30 a.m. EPD responded to Little Oaks Apartments, 300 West Atwater Avenue, on a report of a possible stabbing. When officers arrived, they found no one had been stabbed but an altercation occurred between at least three family members, EPD said. One of the parties involved left the scene before officers arrived and they believed he ran from the scene toward Eustis Heights Elementary School and Lake Technical College.

EHES was locked down and an officer was positioned on campus throughout the duration of the lockdown. The man was located, detained and released, but the case remains under investigation. Students told Inside Lake that Lake Technical College was also placed on a brief lockdown.

In the second incident, just minutes later, a bicyclist was struck by a vehicle on Kurt Street near Lake Technical College. The bicyclist told police he rode the bike into the roadway and was struck by a vehicle he did not see. He suffered minor injuries, including road rash and superficial bruising and was released by Lake EMS on the scene, according to EPD.

2 Schools in Eustis Placed on Brief Lockdown Wednesday Morning Read More »

Lake County Schools to Follow Wednesday Schedule in Anticipation of Severe Weather Tuesday, After School Activities Canceled

LAKE COUNTY, Fla.—Lake County Schools will follow Wednesday schedules on Tuesday in anticipation of severe weather, according to an LCS spokesperson.

“Severe thunderstorms are in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024) in Lake County, particularly in areas on the northern end. In an effort to get as many students home before the worst of the storm begins, Lake County Schools will follow our Wednesday early dismissal schedule on Tuesday,” LCS Communications Coordinator Sherri Owens said in an email Monday night.

LCS will excuse weather-related absences and all after school outdoor activities are canceled. Extended Learning Centers (ELC) will be open, Owens said.

Lake County Schools to Follow Wednesday Schedule in Anticipation of Severe Weather Tuesday, After School Activities Canceled Read More »

Eustis Middle Teacher’s Assistant Arrested for Slapping Student Across the Face because she was “Frustrated.”

EUSTIS, Fla.—A Eustis Middle School employee who worked as both a teacher’s assistant and a family-school liaison was arrested for child abuse after a father reported she slapped his 14-year-old son across the face just before Thanksgiving break began earlier this month and according to Lake County Schools, she has been “alternatively placed in a role with no interaction with students.”

According to an arrest affidavit, on Nov. 17, the principal of EMS contacted the boy’s father and told him Ute Galloway, 61, had slapped his son across the face in front of other students and then pulled the boy aside to apologize to him, the father told police. He said the school’s administration told him they would “handle the situation” and call him at a later time to follow-up, but he never received a call.

Students and employees of Lake County Schools had the following week off and returned to school Monday and the father told a Eustis Police Department school resource officer (SRO) his son told him Galloway was still at the school and it “appeared there were no consequences for her actions,” the affidavit states.

He told the SRO his wife called the school to inquire why Galloway was still at the school and spoke with the principal who reportedly told her he could not go into detail about the investigation or provide what steps the school was taking while Galloway was under investigation, according to the affidavit.

The boy’s father said he was upset and wanted to press criminal charges against Galloway and the SRO told him it was a serious matter, and he would begin investigating it immediately. The SRO pulled video surveillance from the media center on Nov. 17 and observed the boy on his knees near where Galloway was sitting. The boy appeared to be drawing something on a piece of paper when Galloway unexpectedly slapped him on the left side of his face with an open hand.

The SRO called the boy in, and he told him he was playing a game with other students where they would draw parts of a turkey on a piece of paper. Galloway told the students not to look at the outline of the paper while drawing the turkey, but the boy looked at the outline anyway which “frustrated” Galloway.  He continued to look at the outline to draw the turkey and Galloway “suddenly smacked” him across the face which shocked him and the students who witnessed it. Galloway immediately pulled him into a room, apologized and said she slapped him out of frustration, he told the SRO.

The SRO then spoke with two students who had similar stories, and one said Galloway told the students she was sorry, and she had slapped the boy out of frustration, “not to make a big deal out of it,” and not to tell anyone what happened.

The SRO did not interview Galloway, because, according to the affidavit, she was “suspended indefinitely from the school.”

Galloway, who has been employed at EMS since August 2022, was arrested for child abuse without great bodily harm at her home in Eustis around 7 p.m. Wednesday and transported to the Lake County Jail, where she was released on $5,000 bond.

Inside Lake reached out to Lake County Schools to inquire about Galloway’s employment status.

“The incident is alleged to have occurred on the morning of Nov. 17, the last day of school for students and teachers prior to the Thanksgiving break. Nov. 27 was the first day back after the break. Galloway reported to work, and Employee Relations (ER) requested information from the school regarding the claim. After receiving the information, Galloway was told to report to ER and was alternatively placed,” LCS Communications Officer Sherri Owens said in an email. “Galloway has been alternatively placed in a role with no interaction with students while we investigate.”

Eustis Middle Teacher’s Assistant Arrested for Slapping Student Across the Face because she was “Frustrated.” Read More »

Hero Bus Driver Honored at Eustis Commission Meeting

EUSTIS, Fla.—The driver who found the victim of a hit-and-run and used her school bus to shield the victim from oncoming traffic in Eustis last month was honored with Citizens Life Saving Award at the Eustis City Commission meeting Thursday night.

Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri presented a plaque to Stacey Hatcher, a 25-year veteran Lake County Schools bus driver for her “heroic act.”

 

“This is a great act of citizenship and caring about your fellow man,” Capri said.

Capri and Hatcher both believe the the height of the school bus helped her spot the victim lying in the road and Capri said Hatcher’s actions saved the victim’s life.

“Thank God Ms. Hatcher was in her school bus,” Capri said.  “She’s an amazing person.  She does an amazing job. We need more people, more citizens like this.”

Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri and Lake County Schools bus driver Stacey Hatcher share a hug at the Eustis City Commission meeting after Capri presented Hatcher with a Citizens Life Saving Award Thursday night. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

Hatcher had just dropped off members of the Eustis High School Band at EHS, along with a second bus, and both drivers were headed to return the buses to the bus lot off Kurt Street when she found Abigail Stevens, 32, lying in the road on West Lakeview Avenue near the intersection of Morin Street, she told Inside Lake.

She called 9-1-1 and used her bus to shield Stevens from oncoming traffic while she waited for police to arrive. Stevens was suffering from serious injuries and has had several surgeries since she was struck and remains hospitalized.

Eustis Police Department is still investigating the case and said a white passenger car is the culprit.  If you have information, call EPD at 352-357-4121.

 

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School Bus Driver Finds Victim of Hit-and-Run Lying in the Street and Blocks Traffic Monday Night Until Eustis Police Arrive

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9-1-1 Calls Released in Eustis Hit-and-Run, Hero Bus Driver Likely Saved Victim’s Life

EUSTIS, Fla.—Two 9-1-1 calls made following the hit-and-run crash that injured a pedestrian in Eustis Monday night have been released.

The calls made by two different people are difficult to listen to because both callers are emotional as they report the tragic situation. Stacey Hatcher, a Lake County Schools bus driver, found Abigail Stevens, 32, lying in the road on West Lakeview Avenue near Morin Street around 9 p.m. Monday night. Hatcher told Inside Lake in an exclusive interview Wednesday, God and fate put her in the right place at the right time.

Hatcher had just dropped off members of the Eustis High School Band at EHS, along with a second bus, and both drivers were headed to return the buses to the bus lot off Kurt Street when she found Stevens and called 9-1-1. Hatcher used her bus to shield Stevens from oncoming traffic, likely preventing her from getting hit by another vehicle and saving her life.

Listen to both 9-1-1 calls below: 

 

 

Paint marks points of interest in hit-and-run investigation that injured Abigail Stevens, 32. She was found by a Lake County Schools bus driver lying in the road on West Lakeview Avenue near Morin Street Monday night. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake

 

 

“No way I would have let traffic through,” Hatcher said Wednesday. “Whoever hit her had to run her over or drag her. She was in bad shape.” Hatcher told Inside Lake, vehicles were trying to go around her and drivers were honking their horns—horns can be heard in the background of one of the 9-1-1 calls.

The community and Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri were quick call to Hatcher a hero.

“Mrs. (Stacey) Hatcher’s actions very likely saved a human life Monday,” Capri told Inside Lake.

At press time Thursday, Stevens remained hospitalized in stable condition, according to EPD Capt. Jon Fahning. Police are continuing to investigate and believe a white car may be involved. If you have information, call EPD at 352-357-4121.

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Lake County Schools Bus Driver Who Found Eustis Hit-and-Run Victim Hailed a Hero

9-1-1 Calls Released in Eustis Hit-and-Run, Hero Bus Driver Likely Saved Victim’s Life Read More »

Lake County Schools Bus Driver Who Found Eustis Hit-and-Run Victim Hailed a Hero

EUSTIS, Fla.—The driver who found the victim of a hit-and-run and used her school bus to shield the victim from oncoming traffic in Eustis Monday night is being hailed a hero.

“Mrs. (Stacey) Hatcher’s actions very likely saved a human life Monday,” Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri said. “The world needs more people like her.”

Hatcher, a 25-year-veteran Lake County Schools bus driver, spoke only with Inside Lake Wednesday and said it was God and fate that put her in the right place at the right time around 9 p.m. Monday night.

“I just give God all the glory,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher had just dropped off members of the Eustis High School Band at EHS, along with a second bus, and both drivers were headed to return the buses to the bus lot off Kurt Street when she found Abigail Stevens, 32, lying in the road. As she sat at the light at East Lakeview Avenue and Bay Street, she made a last-minute decision to stay straight and cross over Bay Street to West Lakeview Avenue—a route she does not normally take, she told Inside Lake.

Stacey Hatcher

“I was actually talking to myself,” she said, “and something told me to go straight. I know it was fate.”

In an emotionally-charged interview, Hatcher told Inside Lake she is grateful she is the one who came through the intersection first because the buses sit so high, they allow the drivers to see more than a driver would see in regular vehicle.

“A car may have hit her,” she said.

As she approached the intersection of West Lakeview Avenue and Morin Street, she saw something in the road and thought it may be a Halloween prank. “What is that in the road?” she said to herself.

“I looked again and thought, ‘that can’t be a body,’ she told Inside Lake.

She quickly realized it was not a prank and started panicking a bit and called 9-1-1. She used her bus to shield Stevens from oncoming traffic while she waited for police to arrive. She said Stevens was suffering from serious injuries and an unknown person walked up and said, “That’s Abigail.” The person then left the scene.

“When I said, Abigail, she moved,” Hatcher said, and that was when she knew Stevens was alive.

Hatcher said other vehicles just kept driving by and some even honked their horns. “No way I would have let traffic through,” she said. “Whoever hit her had to run her over or drag her. She was in bad shape; her body was just twisted.”

Eustis Police Department is still investigating the case and they believe a white passenger car may be involved. They are asking residents and business owners to check their cameras and come forward if they have video footage or information.

Hatcher said she does not think she is a hero; she just did what she felt was right, but members of the community were quick to call her a hero and credit her with saving Stevens’ life when the story broke Tuesday.

“I just hope she pulls through,” Hatcher said.

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School Bus Driver Finds Victim of Hit-and-Run Lying in the Street and Blocks Traffic Monday Night Until Eustis Police Arrive

Lake County Schools Bus Driver Who Found Eustis Hit-and-Run Victim Hailed a Hero Read More »

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