Lake County

Woman Finds Man Sawing Off Her Catalytic Converter Outside Leesburg Mall

LEESBURG, Florida—A former police car probably was not the best choice of transportation for a man accused of trying to saw a catalytic converter off a Ram pickup truck in the parking lot of Lake Square Mall Wednesday. The victim left the mall after doing some shopping shortly after 5 p.m. and heard a cutting sound as she approached her truck, the arrest affidavit states. She walked up to the passenger side and found a man, later identified as Garrett Dalton Heiserman, 23, underneath her truck. She told Heiserman to stop and he crawled from underneath the truck holding a […]

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Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By / November 15, 2021

Early Morning Eustis Search Warrant Nets One Arrest

EUSTIS, Florida—In response to complaints about drug activity, Eustis Police Department, along with Mid Florida SWAT served a search warrant at a home on Woodward Avenue early Friday morning, according to EPD Chief Craig Capri. “We needed to get out there and take care of it,” Capri told Inside Lake. Two people were in the home at 357 W. Woodward Avenue Apartment B, including Antwan T. Cross, 34, and an elderly woman. Cross, who turns 35 Saturday, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of paraphernalia and violation of probation. The woman is not facing any charges. 

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Eustis, Inside Scoop / By / November 12, 2021

Coworker Tells Police Man Threatened Him With Makeshift Hatchet

LEESBURG, Florida—A man with a history of threatening people is back in the Lake County Jail, this time accused of threatening a man at his former job with a makeshift hatchet. Leesburg Police responded to a business on Thomas Avenue on a weapons complaint shortly before 9:45 a.m. Monday. The victim told LPD when he arrived at work, he found Preston Wade Greenlee, 50, of Fruitland Park inside the building. Greenlee is a former employee, but had been terminated around 10 years ago, according to the arrest affidavit. The victim said Greenlee spoke to him, but he kept the conversation

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Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By / November 10, 2021

Clermont Teenager Accused of Killing Family Dog With Sword

CLERMONT, Florida—A 17-year-old boy with a “history of violence” is accused of killing the family dog with a sword Saturday and leaving it in the woods near his house. Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home in unincorporated Clermont over the weekend on a report that Avery Featherston, 17, had killed the family dog with a sword and buried it in the woods. Deputies found a sword in the boy’s bedroom that still had animal hair on it, according to an arrest affidavit.  The boy’s stepfather showed deputies where he believed the dog may be and they found

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Clermont, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By / November 9, 2021

Man Arrested After Bragging He Shot At His Neighbor

LEESBURG, Florida—A warrant was issued for a man Monday after he bragged about a shooting incident involving his neighbor last month, according to a probable cause affidavit.   Charles Derek Fueri, 49, is alleged to have driven his Dodge Ram and followed his neighbor as he rode his bicycle down the street on Oct. 28 in Bassville Park near Leesburg. Fueri passed the man and parked; as the man neared his home, Fueri turned his headlights on and accelerated toward the victim. As Fueri approached the victim, he reportedly yelled, “Do you want to die tonight,” displayed a gun and

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Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By / November 9, 2021

Accused Church Burglar Captured By Eustis Police After Foot Chase

EUSTIS, Florida—A man is facing drug and burglary charges after a witness saw him break into a local church and run from police last week. A nearby business owner spotted Chabazz Rionte Belle, 20, throw a bag onto the roof and enter Gethsemane Baptist Church, 505 S. Bay Street, around 8 a.m. Wednesday and he called Eustis Police Department, according to an arrest affidavit. EPD responded and attempted to get in the building but found all the doors were locked. A church official responded to the scene with a key and officers announced themselves, causing Belle to flee the building.

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Eustis, Inside Scoop / By / November 8, 2021

Clermont Teenager Killed in Head-On Crash

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Florida—A head-on crash claimed the lives of two teenage boys Wednesday and sent a 27-year-old woman to the hospital, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.  Around 4:30 p.m., a 17-year-old Clermont boy was driving a sedan northbound on Pleasant Hill Road near Kissimmee, when he overcorrected and traveled into the southbound lane, striking another sedan head-on, FHP Lt. Kim Montes said in a press release. The first vehicle then hit a pole.  The boy was killed, along with his passenger, also a 17-year-old boy, of Kissimmee. Both boys were wearing their seatbelts. The driver of the second car,

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Clermont, Inside Scoop / By / November 4, 2021

Beer Can Helps Nab Eustis Man For ’96 Cold Case Murder

EUSTIS, Florida—A discarded beer can helped solve a quarter-century old brutal murder earlier this week, and resulted in the arrest of a Eustis man, according to an Orange County probable cause affidavit. Kenneth Robert Stough, 54, of Eustis was arrested Tuesday for first degree murder and armed robbery by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. In 1996, Terrence Paquette, 31, was found stabbed multiple times in the bathroom of Lil’ Champ, 4510 Clarcona Ocoee Road, Orlando. The location is now a Kwik Stop, according to Google Maps. Paquette was found by OCSO deputies after receiving a call that the store was

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Eustis, Inside Scoop / By / August 27, 2023

Eustis Woman Slaps Child Over Drink, Arrested For Child Abuse

DeLAND, Florida—An altercation between a group of children and adults over a drink landed a Eustis woman in jail on a child abuse charge Tuesday night. Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a gun complaint around 6:30 p.m. on Beech Avenue in the DeLand area of Lake County, according to an arrest affidavit. The complainant told deputies approximately 20 people were outside his home and they went back to their residence nearby. He said the argument was over a drink and when they went to check the mail, the altercation began. No gun was found. Deputies

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Eustis, Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By / November 3, 2021

8-Month-Old Baby’s Leg Broken, Dad Arrested

MOUNT DORA, Florida—A Mount Dora man was arrested Monday for aggravated child abuse after he was accused of breaking his 8-month-old daughter’s leg, bruising several ribs and failing to get her immediate medical attention. According to a heavily redacted arrest affidavit, the infant was picked up from a home in Eustis around 5 p.m. Wednesday by her father, Dominic Tyler Ralston, 22, after spending the night of Oct. 26 and most of the day Wednesday with two individuals whose names were redacted. The baby had no visible injuries, except for a bruised forehead that was explained by the baby’s parents,

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Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By / January 23, 2022

Fruitland Park Man Facing Molestation Charge After Girl Comes Forward

LEESBURG, Florida—A Fruitland Park man was arrested on a warrant for lewd and lascivious molestation Friday after a girl came forward and told about the abuse she suffered more than three years ago, according to a probable cause affidavit. In early October, the victim told a Leesburg Police Officer, David Carl Hall, 50, put his hands between her legs while she shared a bed with him and two other people whose names are redacted from the affidavit, 3.5 years ago.  The victim, whose exact age is also redacted, was under 12 when the molestation is alleged to have occurred. She

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Fruitland Park, Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By / November 1, 2021

Leesburg Man Killed In Early Morning Shooting

LEESBURG, Florida—Leesburg Police Department is investigating after a man was shot in his home early Monday morning with four young children inside, according to LPD Capt. Joe Iozzi. Damien L. Shiver, 19, suffered at least one gunshot when multiple rounds were fired into the home from outside in the 1600 block of Center Street at 1:24 a.m. Monday. Six additional people were in the home, including four young children, Iozzi said in a press release. Shiver was transported to UF Health Leesburg, where he later died. LPD detectives are investigating to determine a motive and who is responsible, Iozzi said.

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Inside Scoop, Leesburg / By / November 1, 2021

Mount Dora Man Killed In Wednesday Night Crash

MOUNT PLYMOUTH, Florida–A 44-year-old Mount Dora man died in a single-vehicle crash late Wednesday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.  Shortly before midnight, the man was traveling eastbound on State Road 46 near Carroll Street when the SUV he was driving left the roadway for an unknown reason, FHP Lt. Kim Montes said in a press release. The SUV overturned and the man, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was ejected. He was pronounced dead on the scene.  The crash remains under investigation.

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Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By / October 28, 2021

Multiple Shots Fired on Busy Leesburg Road Friday Night, Mount Dora Man Behind Bars

LEESBURG, Florida—A Mount Dora man is facing a litany of charges after he was accused of shooting at a vehicle on North Boulevard Friday night. Leesburg Police received a complaint about a burgundy Ford Expedition driving recklessly in the area of Citizens Boulevard and North Boulevard at 8:21 p.m. Friday. The complainant provided dispatch with updated locations and about two minutes into the call the complainant said they heard what sounded like four to five gunshots, according to an arrest affidavit. The SUV then pulled into a business on U.S. Highway 441. One minute later, a second complainant reported the

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Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Mount Dora / By / October 25, 2021

Paisley Man Dead After Couple Fights, Struggles Over Gun

PAISLEY, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a struggle over a gun resulted in a man’s death. LCSO responded 27631 Veva Avenue around 9 p.m. Friday and found 31-year-old Chris Smith dead from a single gunshot wound. Smith’s wife, Marina McDonald told deputies the couple had a physical altercation and Smith pointed a gun at her, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said in a press release. McDonald and Smith struggled over the gun and Smith was apparently shot; McDonald had injuries consistent with an altercation. This is an ongoing investigation, Herrell said.  

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Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By / October 23, 2021

Man Dies Following Medical Episode, Crash Near Leesburg

LAKE COUNTY, Florida—A Tallahassee man is dead following a medical episode and single-vehicle crash Thursday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday, the 74-year-old man was traveling eastbound in a 2017 Dodge Ram on State Road 44 near Executive Boulevard, in the Leesburg area, FHP Lt. Kim Montes said in a press release. The man suffered a medical episode, left the roadway and struck a tree. His passenger, a 39-year-old man from The Villages was not injured; both men were wearing their seatbelts. The driver was transported to UF Health Leesburg, where he later died. The

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Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By / October 22, 2021

Man Caught With Pants Down, Pair Accused Of Having Sex, Possessing Meth in Eustis Restaurant Bathroom

EUSTIS, Florida—A couple picked the wrong place to have sex and use methamphetamine Saturday and ended up in the Lake County Jail. Eustis Police responded to Sonic Drive-In, 15125 U.S. Highway 441, just before 5:45 p.m. Saturday in reference to a suspicious person being locked in the bathroom for 30 minutes. When officers arrived, they heard a male voice in the bathroom and ordered the occupant to step out. Scott David Suttie, 31, of Eustis, stepped out and said, “Who us,” as he pulled his pants up, the arrest affidavit states.  Suttie was accompanied by a female, identified as Morgan

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Around the County, Eustis, Inside Scoop / By / October 18, 2021

Clermont Man Accused Of Plying Three Sisters With Alcohol And Marijuana

CLERMONT, Florida—A 41-year-old Clermont man is facing several counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct after being accused of giving three minor sisters alcohol and marijuana and behaving inappropriately. Edwin Ivan Cuevas Quinones, of Clermont, is accused of plying the three girls with marijuana and alcohol in June while they were in Florida for a visit, according to a probable cause affidavit. Due to heavy redaction in the affidavit, it is unclear what Quinones’ relationship to the children is. The victims’ mother contacted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in early

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Around the County, Clermont, Unincorporated Lake / By / November 5, 2021

Man Wanted For Leesburg Murder Arrested Thursday

LEESBURG, Florida—A man wanted for the murder of his acquaintance was found with methamphetamine and resisted Lake County Sheriff’s deputies when they tried to arrest him Thursday, according to an arrest affidavit. Carl Edward “Scotty” Scott Jr., 50, is accused of stabbing a man in the chest during an argument on June 6 on Myer Avenue in Leesburg. The victim told an LCSO detective “Scotty” engaged him in an argument, and he pushed “Scotty” away; he came at the victim again and he punched “Scotty,” who then stabbed him with a sharp object, possibly an ice pick or screwdriver and

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Leesburg / By / November 5, 2021

Naked Man Arrested After Eustis Police Receive Multiple Calls

EUSTIS, Florida—An Ocala man is facing burglary and criminal mischief charges after he was found in a vehicle naked with several cuts following two calls to Eustis Police Department late Wednesday night. EPD responded to two calls at Country Club Manor just after 10 p.m., one reporting a shirtless man inside a vehicle and a second call reporting a man broke a window and made threats, according to an arrest affidavit. Upon arrival, officers found Kendell Trimian Clark, 38, naked, sitting in a white Infiniti. Clark, who was hot and sweaty to the touch, was handcuffed and questioned by officers,

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Eustis / By / November 5, 2021

Breaking The Glass: LCSO Makes History With First Female Captain

The following story was published under a different headline in another publication.   LEESBURG, Florida — History was made Wednesday as longtime Lake County Sheriff’s deputy Christie Mysinger was appointed as the first-ever female captain at LCSO at a ceremony at Leesburg High School. LCSO Sheriff Peyton Grinnell is the first sheriff to appoint a woman to his command staff. “It’s history in the making, “ Grinnell told Lake Legal News. He said he chose Mysinger for a number of reasons, including her college education and her ability to think outside the box. “She has excelled in everything she has been assigned to,” he

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Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Tavares / By / September 13, 2021

Victims In Fruitland Park Barricade Themselves Until Police Arrive — Man Had Machete, Yelling Religious Chants

FRUITLAND PARK, Florida — A man who has been booked into the Lake County Jail 17 times since 2012 was arrested again Monday after allegedly yelling religious chants at a pair of brothers while pacing around them with a machete. Shortly before 3:30 p.m. Monday, Fruitland Park Police responded to Finch’s U Store-It, 2281 U.S. Highway 27-441, Fruitland Park and found Preston Wade Greenlee, 50, walking around his truck, talking to himself, according to an arrest affidavit. An FPPD officer patted Greenlee down and did not find any weapons on Greenlee’s person, but when asked if he had a machete;

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Fruitland Park, Inside Scoop / By / November 10, 2025

Mount Dora Traffic Fatality: Wife And Children Open Up About Losing A Man Who Was “Just Amazing”

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.  EUSTIS, Florida — Seventeen years ago Adrick Rojas pushed his best friend’s sister down on a bed and kissed her. And there began a love story spanning nearly two decades that included the couple moving to Lake County and bringing four children into this world who are loved dearly. “Our first kiss! We were sitting in my brother’s room and my brother walked out for whatever reason. Adrick pushed me down on the bed and kissed me! Then [he] looked at me and yelled, ‘You kissed me!” “I didn’t kiss you! You kissed me!”

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Eustis, Features, Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By / September 19, 2021

Eustis Cousin Charged With Providing the Gun in Myung Sung Store Area Shooting

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — The first cousin of a man already charged in the shooting of a 32-year-old woman in Eustis last month was arrested Wednesday for principal to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. According to a probable cause affidavit, the shooting on January 27 was the culmination of a series of arguments and confrontations between the shooter, Keson Donaldson, who was arrested the same day as the shooting, and the victim, Santana Potts. On Wednesday, Eustis Police arrested Donaldson’s cousin, Keenon Maurice Benn, 20, of Eustis for allegedly giving Donaldson

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Eustis / By / August 30, 2022

Police Say Large Gash To Face Reveals Eustis Shooter’s Motive To Pull Trigger On Woman

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — Eustis Police Department has made an arrest in the shooting of a woman Monday afternoon. According to an arrest report, EPD received a 9-1-1 call Monday stating a female had been shot and was in the area of Orange Avenue. As the call was being dispatched EPD officers heard screams for help coming from the police department lobby and an officer found Santana Potts, 32, in the lobby with one of her family members. Potts, suffering from a gunshot wound to the right arm, told police she

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Eustis / By / August 30, 2022

9-1-1 Call Of Female Shot Near Myung Sung Store In Eustis

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — Eustis Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred just after 12:30 p.m. near a popular store Monday, said Eustis Police Officer Lauren Brown. At 12:37 p.m. Eustis Police received a 911 call stating a female had been shot near Myung Sung Store at the corner of Palmetto Street and McDonald Avenue. The 32-year-old woman was airlifted to an area hospital for her injuries. She is in stable condition, Brown said. This is ongoing investigation, if you have information; call Eustis Police Department at 352-357-4121.

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Eustis / By / August 30, 2022

Meet A Public Information Officer: Lauren Brown

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. As a young boy watching airplanes at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines in South Florida, Eustis Police Officer Lauren Brown imagined one day he would be flying one of those planes, but happening upon a vehicle crash changed everything. Born in Jamaica, Brown, 35, moved to Fort Lauderdale when he was only 10 years old. “My parents wanted to get out of there. [They] wanted to give me a better life,” Brown tells Lake Legal News. He had a love of airplanes and wanted to be a pilot, even building model

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Eustis, Features / By / December 30, 2024

Exclusive: Wounded Eustis Police Captain Says, “I Want My Story To Be Told By Me.”

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — Eustis Police Captain Gary Winheim is grateful to be alive and grateful to the community he serves. “I am humbled by the outpouring of support from the community. [I have] enormous respect for all the fire, medical and law enforcement professionals in the incident. Our community is truly strong.” Just two days after being shot in the neck by an ex-con with a violent history, Winheim, his wife, Stephenie, and their beloved dog Laike sat down in their home with Lake Legal News for an exclusive interview Saturday. “This

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Eustis, Inside Scoop / By / September 19, 2021

Ford of Clermont Body Shop Manager Accused of $500,000 Embezzlement

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. CLERMONT, Florida – A Clermont man is facing scheme to defraud and grand theft charges after a nearly year-long investigation by Clermont Police revealed he stole more than half a million dollars from his place of employment, according to a probable cause affidavit.   Michael Deardoff, owner of Ford of Clermont, and another individual went to Clermont Police Department in October 2018 to report he suspected his body shop manager, Thomas Joseph Pritchard, 60, was misappropriating funds and claimed he had documentation to prove it. He also told police several employees

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Clermont / By / August 30, 2022

Inappropriate Teacher-Video Leaks Out To Lake County Students

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. [09/06/19 9:45 p.m.] UMATILLA, Florida – Due to the nature of its content, LLN is declining to publish the video itself, to avoid further mental harm to students. However, even a cropped screenshot excerpt of the leaked video reveals that the unnamed woman appeared shocked at the salacious language being used, which is the subject of the ongoing investigation by Lake County Schools. [09/06/19 4:56 p.m.] UMATILLA, Florida – Lt. John Herrell has informed LLN that the LCSO took a report, investigated the matter, and having determined that no criminal violation exists, has referred the matter

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Inside Scoop, Umatilla / By / January 23, 2022
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