Lake County

PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff's Office

Man Wanted For Leesburg Murder Arrested Thursday

Leesburg / By

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 fled the scene. The detective was able to determine “Scotty” was Carl Edward Scott Jr.  The victim told LCSO he was unsure as to whether he wanted to press charges. The detective interviewed Scott and two witnesses. The witnesses said Scott stabbed the victim; it is unclear what Scott told the detective.  

The victim’s condition deteriorated over the next several weeks and he died on July 13, according to a probable cause affidavit. His cause of death was determined to be complications from sharp force injuries, according to the affidavit. An additional witness came forward earlier this week and a warrant was issued for Scott’s arrest just three days later.

After the warrant was issued Thursday, LCSO responded to Woodland Avenue in Leesburg to locate Scott, who is listed as transient. He was spotted in the front yard of 806 Woodland Avenue and refused to cooperate with deputies and struggled as they attempted to handcuff him. He was taken into custody and found with less than one gram of methamphetamine.

He was charged with resisting arrest and possessing methamphetamine in addition to second degree murder. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $253,000 bond.

Man Wanted For Leesburg Murder Arrested Thursday Read More »

PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff's Office

Naked Man Arrested After Eustis Police Receive Multiple Calls

Eustis / By

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, according to the affidavit.

Speaking in a quiet, muffled voice and appearing to be confused and disoriented, Clark told EPD his clothes were behind a fence, but officers were unable to locate them. He had several small cuts on his stomach and a three-inch cut on his right thigh; when officers asked how he was injured he told them he was trying to harm himself, the affidavit states. Lake EMS and Umatilla Fire Department arrived on scene to assist.

Clark was transported to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares and appeared to be hallucinating after he arrived at the hospital, the arresting officer noted. He was having conversations with himself and acting out sexual movements as if he was with a partner. Clark was later transported to the Lake County Jail.

EPD spoke with the complainant who said she was attempting to go to sleep when she heard a loud noise and observed a larger male in her white Nissan and told him she was calling law enforcement. The man fled south behind her home and the victim found that several sets of keys were missing from her vehicle.  The keys were later located in a neighbor’s driveway.

Officers spoke with the second complainant, and he said Clark beat on his door and then broke a window in his carport. Clark continued to break glass out of the window and yelled “Are you (expletive) with me? Give me your car keys, I want your car. If you don’t, I’ll kill you,” the affidavit states. The victim grabbed a kitchen knife for protection and as EPD arrived on scene, Clark fled.

Clark was arrested for burglary of an occupied structure and criminal mischief. He is being held in LCJ on $16,000 bond.

Naked Man Arrested After Eustis Police Receive Multiple Calls Read More »

Breaking The Glass: LCSO Makes History With First Female Captain

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Tavares / By

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 said. “She thinks outside the box, she doesn’t hesitate; that’s important to me because I learn from my employees.” He noted how well she supervised the school resource unit and how important school safety is, along with forging into the unknown with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mysinger, a 30-year veteran, rose through the ranks in her career, starting at LCSO when she was just 20 years old. At 20, Mysinger looked so young, someone once reported her to LCSO for driving her “dad’s patrol car,” she remembers with a laugh.

Becoming a captain was one of Mysinger’s goals from the start of her career and being appointed the first female was something she never envisioned.
“It is both an honor and a huge responsibility. Not only am I being given the opportunity to forge a new path, but I also have the responsibility of being a role model for the many young women who are just beginning their careers in law enforcement.” 
Mysinger has served in numerous different capacities at LCSO, including road patrol, field training officer, mounted patrol, community services, public information officer, DARE and most recently as lieutenant in the school resource unit — her third time in the unit. She served first as a deputy, later as a sergeant and finally as lieutenant. 

“Every time I came back to the unit, I was a higher rank,” Mysinger told LLN earlier this week.”
Mysinger will now serve as captain over support services, emergency management bureau, aviation and communications.

Grinnelll gave a small speech to his deputies and attendees and said how blessed they are to work in Lake County — a county that is so supportive of law enforcement. He thanked all of his deputies for “holding the ‘thin blue line,’” and said, “All of you make me look good.” 

Mysinger was joined by 21 other deputies who were also promoted Wednesday, Todd English and Skott Jensen were appointed to major; Russ Edwards, Michael Marden, Mysinger and Shawn Vance were appointed to captain; Cameron Crews, Fred Jones, Tim O’Brien and Bill Reed were promoted to lieutenant; Tim Beary, Sandi Chessher, Jasen McCormick and Billy Walls were promoted to sergeant and Brandon Barnard, Joe Brocato, Austin Chandler, Richard Dolen, Adam Kelly, Charles Pendergrass, Todd Rowley and Jarrod Strickland were promoted to corporal. Captain positions and above are appointed by the sheriff, lieutenant positions and below are earned through testing and an interview.  

Major Chris DeLibro announced each deputy’s name and they walked across the stage to get their certificate and pose for a photo with Grinnell. Newly-promoted Lt. Fred Jones stopped in the middle of the stage, pointed out towards the crowd and yelled, “I love you, mama,” which drew cheers and applause from the audience and it was an extra special day for newly-appointed Capt. Michael Marden, Wednesday was also his birthday and DeLibro led the audience in a rendition of the “Happy Birthday” song.

Breaking The Glass: LCSO Makes History With First Female Captain Read More »

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

Eustis, Features, Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By

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!”

“I definitely didn’t kiss you! You pinned me down! I’m telling your brother!”

“And then he kissed me again.”

Rojas’ wife Shannon, spoke with this reporter Monday, about her husband, just six weeks and one day after he passed away in a tragic crash and spoke about their children and their life together, including the kiss that started it all.

Growing up in South Florida, Rojas, 36, was Shannon’s brother’s best friend and the two sets of parents were best friends as well, Shannon said. Shannon’s grandparents were looking to move to The Villages and instead found 12.5 acres in Eustis. In 2004, when Shannon and Adrick’s oldest daughter, Mikaylee was just two months old, they moved to Lake County and began their new life together. The family property is like a compound, Shannon laughed; her grandparents gave her brother and parents three acres each, along with Shannon and Adrick.  

Adrick, who learned his gardening skills from his mom, grew tomatoes, strawberries and peppers also built Shannon a garden and koi pond. “He built me a special garden where I park,” she said.

Shannon’s strength was apparent as she spoke with this reporter; although she choked back tears several times during the interview, she also acknowledged Adrick made a mistake the evening of Aug. 16.

“He was irresponsible in his speed, 100 percent. I cannot defend him on that,” she said, “but he was so much more than that. That one mistake is not what makes you.”

According to a report released by Mount Dora Spokeswoman Lisa McDonald, witnesses told Mount Dora Police Adrick was driving southbound around 80 miles per hour, near 4150 Highway 19A in a 2001 black Ford Expedition around 6:45 p.m. when he attempted to pass another driver. He crossed over the double line, lost control and rolled the SUV three times and was ejected. He was killed less than a block from his job, Simplex, Inc. a glass and mirror business, located at 4085 North Highway 19A.  

Adrick, who worked in construction most of his life picked up his skills from both of his dads and could do it all, Shannon said. “[He could do] anything you could think of in construction.”

Adrick was an avid skateboarder for many years. Everywhere the family went the skateboard was in the trunk, Shannon remembers fondly. “He had our babies on a skateboard.”

The couple has four children, and they all miss their father desperately. Shannon said he was a very active father and they referred to him as their “bearded Disney Daddy.” The children shared some of their tender memories.

“Dad was my gossip buddy. He would hear about everything I had to say. Even at 6:30 every morning when he drove me to school. I miss you Dad,” said Mikaylee, 15.

Maddox, 12, the couple’s only son, has stepped up as the ‘man of the house,’ Shannon said. He misses his father terribly. “He really liked playing sports with me. I miss you a lot, Dad.”

Maylani, 6, who would wait at the door with her little sister Mila and the family’s two dogs for their Daddy to come home every day so they could ride on his back like a horse, misses their tea parties. “He would play dress up with us and let us put pretty bows in his hair and beard! I love you so much, Daddy! My Daddy was the best Daddy in the world!”

Three-year-old Mila waves to her Daddy in the sky each day, Shannon told LLN. “My Daddy dance with me! Daddy’s in the sky! I love my Dad.”

Shannon and her children struggle with the loss each day, “The only thing keeping me going is those four babies,” but next month will be especially hard. The couple shares the same birthday — Oct. 17. This will be the first birthday in 17 years they spent apart, Shannon (one year older than Adrick) told LLN with a laugh; she was always known as the cougar because she is one year older.

Though Shannon spoke of many things she loved about Adrick, she said it was his smile that always got to her. It was infectious, he lit up a room and was the life of the party. “His smile. Everything about his smile.”

Shannon visits Adrick’s grave each Sunday and cleans up and brings fresh flowers; a plaque at the gravesite reads, “If I had my life to do over again… I’d find you sooner so I could love you longer.”

 “I want him remembered as an amazing friend and a great father. He was just amazing.”

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

PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff's Office

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

Eustis / By

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 the gun he used to shoot Potts.

Donaldson told police he went to Myung Sung Store, 201 Palmetto Street, Eustis to make a purchase. As he was walking up to the store, Potts and three other people allegedly confronted Donaldson and he told them he did not want any trouble. According to Donaldson, Potts approached him with a pink eyebrow blade (described as a pink pocketknife by Donaldson) and swung her fist, slashing him in the face. Donaldson said he fell to the ground next to a gun and said he reached for the gun while other people were reaching for the same gun. In fear, Donaldson grabbed the gun and began firing in an unknown direction, the affidavit states.

But Potts told police a different story, according to a probable cause affidavit. She told police she pulled up to the store, backed her car in and saw her brother. While hanging out with her brother, two people began walking towards her; Benn, who is known by the nickname “Ooh” and another person who she eventually recognized as Donaldson. Potts questioned Benn why he would bring Donaldson there and Benn told her to forget about the earlier confrontation the pair had. As Donaldson and Benn were about to leave, Potts told Benn to, “remember what I told you.” Donaldson responded, “Oh, [expletive expletive expletive,] nobody worried about what you said.”

Potts and Donaldson continued to argue and Benn stood between the two and pushed Potts toward the road. Benn said, “Y’all don’t need to do this,” and Donaldson “mushed” Potts in the face, she told police. She described “mushing” as a closed fist punch, the affidavit states. She did have a bruise on her chin, police noted in the affidavit. Potts then sliced Donaldson in the face with a pink eyebrow blade. She told police she was in fear due to Donaldson’s previous threats and she felt she needed to defend herself.

Benn allegedly then reached into his pocket and handed Donaldson a gun; Potts walked towards Myung Sung Store and yelled out, “Boy, you better not shoot that gun.” Potts then heard a shot and did not feel anything, but felt a bullet hit her when Donaldson allegedly took the second shot, she said. Potts fell to the ground and heard more gunfire. She told police she believed eight rounds were fired in her direction. Four shell casings were found at the scene.

Potts was airlifted to a local hospital for her injuries. She suffered two gunshot wounds, one to the right arm and one under her armpit. The bullet that went in under her armpit collapsed part of her right lung and caused a spinal fracture. The bullet is still lodged under her heart, according to the affidavit.

Donaldson, 21, was arrested last month and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon the day of the shooting. He was released the same day on $20,000 bond. Benn was charged with principal to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was arrested Wednesday and released from the Lake County Jail on $10,000 bond.

“CID (Criminal Investigation Division) has concluded their investigation,“ Eustis Police Officer Lauren Brown said.”No other arrests will be made.”

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

PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff's Office

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

Eustis / By

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 had been in an argument with Keson Jacqueze Donaldson, 21, of Mount Dora, and she heard two gunshots and may have seen a black vehicle speed away, according to an arrest affidavit.

Police responded to the scene near the corner of Palmetto Street and McDonald Avenue and found four shell casings from a small caliber firearm and a pink razorblade with dried blood. While working the scene, EPD received information Donaldson was at AdventHealth Waterman seeking treatment to a large laceration to his face. Donaldson’s mugshot shows a cut down the side of his face from his hairline nearly to the corner of his mouth.

Detectives responded to the hospital and Donaldson said he went to Myung Sung Store, 201 Palmetto Street, Eustis to make a purchase. As he was walking up to the store, Potts and three other people allegedly confronted Donaldson and he told them he did not want any trouble. According to Donaldson, Potts approached him with the pink razor blade (described as a pink pocketknife by Donaldson) and swung her fist, slashing him in the face. Donaldson said he fell to the ground next to a gun and said he reached for the gun while other people were reaching for the same gun. In fear, Donaldson grabbed the gun and began firing in an unknown direction, the affidavit states.

A witness told police he heard Donaldson and Potts arguing and heard Donaldson call Potts a name and then he raised a gun and fired four to five rounds at her, before getting into a small black car and fleeing the scene, a statement that conflicts with what Donaldson told police.

Donaldson agreed to come to EPD for additional questioning and gave police a statement that did not match the evidence from the scene and was inconsistent with his first statement, the arresting detective noted in the affidavit. Police believe Potts slashed Donaldson in the face; he retreated approximately 50 feet and then pulled out the gun and fired in a northern direction, striking Potts from behind.

Donaldson was charged with possession a firearm by a convicted felon and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was released from the Lake County Jail on $20,000 bond.

Detectives are scheduled to interview Potts sometime Wednesday, said EPD Officer Lauren Brown.

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

PHOTO: Inside Lake

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

Eustis / By

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.

PHOTO: Inside Lake

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.

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

Meet A Public Information Officer: Lauren Brown

Behind the Badge, Eustis, Features / By

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 airplanes as a child. Being a law enforcement officer was not something he planned on. “That was not really on my radar at all.”

Brown was studying aerospace around 2007 and was driving home when he drove up on the wreck. “I was looking at this wreck and [I wanted] to help,” Brown explains to LLN. “That urge to help people is what drives me.” It was after that he switched from aerospace to criminal justice and received a degree from Broward College.

His urge to help people and charming personality make him a great fit for two roles at the Eustis Police Department — community relations officer and public information officer (PIO.) “I wear two hats,” Brown said, “community relations and public information officer.”

As community relations officer, Brown is out in the community at different events and gets to know the residents he serves. “People get to interact with a uniformed officer,” he said, “I get out of the car and shake their hands; I want to hear their stories. That’s one of the big benefits.” Brown feels his position has repaired old friendships between the department and the community and created new ones. “It’s created a lot of bridges.”

Brown is also the man behind the department’s Facebook page. He posts many different things from suspect photos to public service announcements. In January, he began posting as his alter ego, Major Trooper, donning a Star Wars’ storm trooper mask— a recent gift from his younger sister. Major Trooper has different rules when Chief Gary Calhoun is out of town, including Rule No. 4: “The only donuts that will be allowed are glazed and sprinkled. Sprinkles are for winners.” The department’s Facebook followers seem to be having fun being silly with Brown. Many of the Major Trooper posts have dozens of comments and shares.

In his role as PIO, Brown is the liaison between the media and the police department. He has to prepare press releases, answer the tough questions asked of him by the media and sometimes get in front of a live camera. He was thrust in front of several print media outlets and numerous television cameras for a major press conference when Capt. Gary Winheim was shot in December 2019. “I’ve always known at some point I’d have to get in front of the cameras—can’t hide behind press releases forever,” he tells LLN.

Brown believes his different roles both in law enforcement and working with law enforcement have helped him. He began his career at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) as a community service officer, a civilian position that entailed taking reports, crime scene investigation and crash reports. “Nothing in progress,” Brown explains to LLN, ”just after-the-fact stuff.”

After a new sheriff (the infamous Scott Israel) was elected in 2012, BCSO suffered numerous cutbacks and Brown was laid off. He put in applications at several agencies and was hired at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office as a crime scene investigator. He worked there for four years and during that time attended the law enforcement academy. He went to school at night while working days and completed his training.

He was hired by the Eustis Police Department five years ago. Brown said his CSI experience helps him a lot as an officer. He can collect his own evidence and dust for prints; having both the patrolman’s point of view and seeing the importance of the evidence gives him a complete advantage, Brown notes.

Meet A Public Information Officer: Lauren Brown Read More »

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

Eustis, Inside Scoop / By

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 is my story,” Winheim said. “And I want my story to be told by me.”

Sporting bandages on his ear, neck and back, Winheim, 49, a 24-year veteran of Eustis Police Department is doing well after having surgery to remove the 9mm bullet that clipped his earlobe, entered his neck and travelled slightly down his back. Doctors at Orlando Regional Medical successfully removed the bullet Friday and he was released from the hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Thursday, around noon, Winheim was in full uniform and in his unmarked truck— a truck well-known in the community to be driven by Winheim— at the traffic light at County Road 44 and State Road 19 when he heard gunshots coming from the area of a small mechanic shop, a Shell gas station and a Winn Dixie. Winheim’s wife, Stephenie, a former ICU nurse, was on the phone with him when he heard the shots. “I was not responding to a burglary call or a robbery call. I was not responding to any call. I was minding my own business,” the captain explains to LLN.

The Shell station at 1905 North State Road 19 in Eustis, Florida, was held up by an armed robber Tuesday evening and EPD was working on getting a warrant for the suspect’s arrest Thursday morning. 

Winheim, a 12-year SWAT team member, saw a dark-colored SUV leaving the parking lot of the Winn Dixie driving erratically and he began to follow it. Winheim followed the SUV eastbound down County Road 44, when it suddenly pulled over near Trout Lake Nature Center. Winheim pulled over too. At this point, Winheim did not know he was following Jayson Colvin, the man suspected of robbing Shell. “I had no idea who he was,” Winheim said. “No clue.” As captain over the Criminal Investigations Division, Winheim was familiar with the investigation and where that investigation was, but it never entered his mind that he might be following Colvin, he tells LLN. “We firmly believed he had left town.”

“I firmly believe he knew who I was because he has history in this county,” Winheim said. Colvin, who has a criminal history in Lake County dating back to 1998, was arrested by EPD in March for resisting without violence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and again in April for resisting without violence. All the charges from the March case were dropped; he was sentenced to probation and given a fine in the April case.

“I was catching up to him and he pulled over,” Winheim relates. He did not know why the SUV stopped because he had not activated his emergency lights. He was not sure if the driver needed assistance, or if he was pulling over for sinister reasons. “All the scenarios that you’re going through—‘Is he hurt, was he just shot at, does he have somebody in the truck who’s hurt, or was just shot at?’” In addition to wondering if the man needed assistance, Winheim also wondered about his own safety. “Is he flagging me down because he needs assistance or does he have bad intent right now? This is how it processes for law enforcement; all of the bad things that could be happening to them that we need to help them with, or all of the bad things that they’re intending to do to us. You have all that processing through your head,” Winheim tells LLN.

“He (Colvin) jumps out, immediately raises the gun and starts firing at me. It’s an ambush,” Winheim recalls thinking. Winheim was still sitting in his truck when he took fire; he never got the chance to get out, or to grab his gun.

Colvin fired multiple shots (the exact number has not been released, as it is part of the still-active investigation) striking Winheim once, through the windshield of his truck.

“So when he jumped out and started shooting at me, I had no idea what was going on at that point. When he started popping off rounds and I got hit in the neck and I knew I was hit in the neck, it stunned me.” Winheim tried to lie down over the seat, but his truck has a large center console and he could not get low enough, “So I caught the round in the neck.”

When asked what was going through his head once he realized he was being shot at, Winheim said he thought to himself, “I’m in a really bad spot.”

“We can train for a whole bunch of tactical scenarios. You cannot train for an ambush. An ambush is an ambush. The only thing about an ambush is you can train to fight through an ambush.”

Colvin fled and Winheim bailed out, ran to the back of his truck and thought to himself, “This is not where I end.” At that point, his main concern was blood loss. A vehicle pulled in behind Winheim during the shooting and Winheim ran to it. The driver rolled down the window and said, “I’m on the phone with 9-1-1.” Winheim responded, “Ma’am, I am 9-1-1. I’ve already called them.” He asked her how bad he was bleeding and she gave him her jacket and put it against his neck and held pressure to his wound. 

EPD Senior Officer Wayne Perry Sr. was the first to arrive and was getting his med kit as EPD Sergeant Dan Post arrived and Winheim said “Dan, give me your med kit,” and  Post replied, “I brought a fire truck.” “Love me some Dan Post,” Winheim says. “He’s awesome.”

Winheim likes to give the fire department a hard time. “I mess with firefighters horribly,” he adds with a grin. “The old police-fire thing. I am ruthless with the fire department.” But Winheim teases them affectionately, “I truly do love those guys and appreciate the job they do.”

A firefighter Winheim has known for many years treated him, and Winheim looked at him and said, “Do not let me die.” And he said, “Oh, I’m not letting you die; you’re not going anywhere.” Winheim responded, “Great! Take care of me. I’m getting through this. I’m not done yet.” The firefighter said, “No, you’re not done yet. You’re getting through this.”

Always the jokester, even in a crisis, Winheim said, “And I want everybody here to know, all those jokes I made, I was just kidding.”

Colvin fled to Umatilla and crashed near Cookie’s Junkyard & Towing, 19813 County Road 450, bailed and ran into a wooded area. More than 500 law enforcement officers responded to the search scene from local, state, and federal agencies, Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said in a press conference Thursday.

After nearly seven hours of searching, a helicopter pilot from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Aviation Unit spotted Colvin hiding under a canoe, along the shoreline of a small lake. The pilot saw him take position in an aggressive manner. Colvin refused to comply with deputies’ orders and was shot and killed.

Stephenie Winheim, now a Realtor, was home when she found out her husband was shot and Winheim called her himself. “Damn right, I did, That’s my wife.” He said, “Baby, I want you to know I’m OK. I’ve been shot. And I love you.” Choking back tears, he recalled, “I told her I was not gonna die and I was not leaving her.”

Since they’ve been together, Captain Winheim has been involved in three other shootings prior to Thursday’s shooting, “I definitely didn’t react the same way to this one as I reacted to the first one,” she tells LLN. “I worked in ICU, it’s high stress level. We see a lot of things; we’re good compartmentalizers. You can’t freak out— you have to deal with what’s going on.”

The shooting was just one week after the pair celebrated their seventh anniversary. They were married on December 12, 2012, (12-12-12) and dated for five years prior to getting married. They travelled to Nashville, Tennessee, to celebrate their anniversary and returned just three days before the shooting.

The love the two share for each other is obvious. Each one choked back tears several times while talking with LLN. They speak in unison, finish each other’s sentences and complement each other’s personalities. They both told LLN that they are best friends. 

Notably, the couple taught a section at EPD’s in-service training program to help teach spouses how to cope with the aftermath of serious incidents. “Almost 24 years with Eustis, almost 12 years as a SWAT operator; I’m an active shooter instructor, reality-based training. I’ve been really fortunate in my career to have attended a lot of training classes and a lot of firearms-related training classes. I consider myself a tactical guy,” the captain states.

Captain Winheim tells LLN that he thinks law enforcement is excellent at training, and he has seen it get better and better over his career, but there are still some flaws. “We are awesome at training right up to the point of pulling the trigger. We don’t teach our officers what happens afterward. We don’t teach officers about the media coming and asking them questions and getting on their Facebook to find things out,” he explains to LLN.

“There are law enforcement officers who believe, ‘Don’t include your spouse in your work. Don’t burden your spouse with your work. Don’t bring your work home,’” Winheim notes, but he disagrees. “If you don’t inoculate your spouse to what you do, prior to an event like this, how do you expect your spouse to get through an event like this? The body can’t go where the mind hasn’t been.” 

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PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons.org

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

Clermont / By

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 had knowledge of Pritchard’s fraudulent practices, the affidavit states.

Lake Legal News called Deardoff for comment, but he had not returned the call at press time.  

One employee told a Clermont Police detective she was asked to go to the onsite body shop to assist Pritchard in getting things in order. The employee said she immediately knew something was not right, according to the affidavit. The employee reported “that when she walked onto the lot she discovered several vehicles that had never been to the dealership. [She] discovered some vehicles that had been in their service department yet never showed to have a body shop repair at their facility. The total of vehicles located was 19”, according to her police statement. She reportedly asked Pritchard what was up and according to her statement to police, Pritchard immediately became defensive and stated those vehicles were his and she needed to stay out of his business.

The employee also told police she found several older vehicles, some that had been there for more than a year. She questioned Pritchard about those and again, he told her to stay out of his business. The employee reported her findings to Deardoff and he also questioned Pritchard, who provided him with owner names. However those vehicles did not have repair estimates, and an estimate is always provided, according to the affidavit.  

The same employee was closing out repair orders and found Pritchard had “flagged” a technician for work one to two months prior. The employee questioned Pritchard about it and he began yelling at her and telling her it was none of her business, the affidavit states. She continued going through repair orders and found repairs were allegedly being charged out on tickets that did not belong to the vehicle, or technicians were being paid before a job was complete, in addition to the wrong technicians being flagged on vehicles that were finished. A meeting was called to include several employees including Pritchard and the employee who found the discrepancies. After the meeting, Pritchard called the employee into his office and told her to close the door. Pritchard began yelling at her and throwing his fists in the air, the affidavit states. Pritchard yelled, “[Expletive] this, I’m over this [expletive]!” The employee tried to calm him and he reportedly yelled, “I’m going to kill myself because I know I’m going to jail!” The employee asked why and Pritchard stated he “[expletive] up big time.”

The employee advised since her first day at the body shop customer would come to the shop and ask for Pritchard by name and if they couldn’t speak with him, they would just leave without leaving their name or a message and say they would just call him directly. Another customer came in to pay her bill and was very upset at the amount, $437.03. Pritchard came out and spoke with her and reduced her bill to $93.36. The employee told police Pritchard removed parts from the customer’s invoice to lower the bill, according to the affidavit.

Police spoke with another employee, a technician, who told him Pritchard had come to him on numerous occasions and instructed him to work on vehicles without repair orders. He also said Pritchard had called him in on several Sundays to work, the affidavit states. Yet, another employee in the parts department told police he questioned Pritchard about the parts he was ordering and Pritchard told him, leave it alone and it would all wash out in the end. The Clermont Police detective requested an investigative subpoena for bank records.

In February 2019, the detective conducted an interview with a fourth employee, an auto body mechanic. The mechanic told police Pritchard would give him side work after hours and on weekends and he would be paid either in cash, or Pritchard would add hours to work orders. The employee told police he had seen Pritchard accept cash from customers, as well.

The detective received documentation from one bank and found Pritchard had an additional account with another bank. This account was a business account for 1st Sterling Glass Repair/Superglass Windshield Repair. The detective found multiple checks in large amounts being written as payroll from the business account to Pritchard. The detective compared the account to documentation provided by Ford of Clermont and was unable to trace exact dollar amounts due to the fact Pritchard had allegedly accepted cash from customers. However, the detective was able to find parts and labor were misappropriated to repair orders that did not require the parts or labor associated with the repair.

The detective determined $565,328.13 was stolen.

Pritchard was arrested Sunday. He bonded out of the Lake County Jail the same day he was arrested on $35,000 bond. 

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