LEESBURG, Fla.—An Ocala woman was found dead Monday morning in a retention pond, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The woman, 25, was traveling northbound on County Road 452 in a 2019 Dodge Challenger when she ran of the right side of the road, hit a pole, crashed through a chain link fence and drove into a retention pond, fully submerging the car. The pond is located at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, 39034 County Road 452, Leesburg.
An Ocala woman was found dead in a retention pond Monday after crashing through this fence at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center outside of Leesburg. PHOTO: Marilyn M. Aciego/Inside Lake
“The exact time of the crash is under investigation,” Trooper Migdalisis Garcia said.
FHP responded to the scene around 8 a.m. Monday and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team assisted with recovery.
LEESBURG, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating after a deceased person was found in vehicle at the bottom of a pond Monday morning.
The vehicle was found in a small pond at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, 39034 County Road 452, Leesburg around 7:45 a.m. Monday. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team is on scene and assisting FHP with recovery, LCSO Cpl. Chanel Martin told Inside Lake.
Inside Lake was on the scene and a large portion of fence was broken in front of the pond and crime scene taped was stretched out along County Road 452. An FHP traffic homicide investigator is on scene and more information will be released once it is available, Trooper Migdalisis Garcia said.
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
LEESBURG, Fla.—The 87-year-old victim of a shooting in late September has died and two Leesburg men have been arrested for his murder, according to Leesburg Police Department.
Clarence Ervin, 87, of Leesburg was shot shortly before 2:45 p.m. Sept. 28, at 2101 West Main Street, as he sat in a car at a gas pump, video released by LPD showed. Ervin was transported to an area hospital and later died from his injuries on Oct. 6, LPD Lt. Shannon Walsh said.
On Friday, Kenneth D. Bailey, 22, and Craig A. Stevenson Jr., 22, were arrested on charges of capital murder and aggravated battery on a person over 65, Walsh said. They were booked into the Lake County Jail and are being held on no bond.
The third person involved in the murder has been identified, Walsh said, and detectives are working with the State Attorney’s Office to obtain an arrest warrant.
LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department has released two videos capturing the people suspected in the gas station shooting of an 87-year-old man.
One video shows the suspects walking across the parking lot of Citgo, 2101 West Main Street, and the second shows the incident occurring around 2:40 p.m. Saturday, LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh said.
Two suspects approached the passenger side of the vehicle, while another suspect approached the driver side, where the victim was sitting. During a confrontation, the victim was shot and all three suspects fled.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was transported to an area hospital and underwent surgery Saturday night, Walsh said.
Anyone with information on the shooting can call LPD at 353-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department is searching for three suspects who they say are involved in the shooting of an 87-year-old man.
LPD responded to Citgo, 2101 West Main Street on a report of a shooting around 2:40 p.m. Saturday, LPD. Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. Two suspects approached the passenger side of the vehicle, while another suspect approached the driver side, where the victim was sitting. During a confrontation, the victim was shot and all three suspects fled.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was transported to an area hospital and underwent surgery Saturday night, Walsh said.
Anyone with information on the shooting can call LPD at 353-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
LEESBURG, Fla.—Leesburg Police Department has made an arrest in the murder of a 20-year-old man in July.
Ondrique D. Mosely, 18, of Lady Lake was arrested Friday without incident in Lady Lake for principal to homicide- premediated, LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. He is being held on no bond.
James Jordan was found lying in the yard of a home in the 2200 block of Aitken Loop in Overlook at Lake Griffin around 2:30 p.m. July 8 suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to UF Health Leesburg, where he died from his injuries, Walsh said in July.
LPD located and seized the vehicle believed to be involved, the day after the murder , and executed search warrants on the vehicle and the location it was recovered from, Walsh said. LPD has not released the location, or the make and model of the vehicle.
If you have information on Jordan’s death, call LPD at 352-787-2121 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS; Crimeline callers may be eligible for a reward.
LEESBURG, Fla.—The Leesburg Blue Foundation is gearing up for its one-of-a-kind Blue Runway 5K scheduled for Sept. 21. Participants can walk, jog or run on Leesburg International Airport’s runways while supporting the nonprofit organization that provides resources to support Leesburg Police Department.
Race day registration begins at 7 a.m., followed by the race at 8 a.m. Participants will start at the taxiway intersection Alpha 4, Leesburg International Airport, 8807 Airport Boulevard, Leesburg and will receive a t-shirt and finisher medal
“All proceeds will benefit the Leesburg Blue Foundation, which is an independent nonprofit organization that provides resources to support, assist and honor the Leesburg Police Department,” LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. “The organization aims to help innovate and improve the quality of its services; build bridges with the community; and make Leesburg a safe place to live, work and visit.”
Beginning Sunday, the registration fee jumps to $45, but Inside Lake readers can take advantage of promo code InsideLake2024, valid through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 13, and pay just $35. The day of the race, registration is $55, so sign up now! For more information on The Leesburg Blue Foundation and to register, visit https://www.leesburgblue.org/
LEESBURG, Fla.—The mother and sister of accused murderer Alex Lopez were arrested Thursday for their role in helping Lopez elude capture, and Lopez’ girlfriend is on the run.
Patricia Kinchens, 42, and Breanna Lopez, 27, were taken into custody by Leesburg Police Department, with assistance from Lady Lake Police Department and Wildwood Police Department, LPD Sgt. Shannon Walsh said. Lopez’ girlfriend Kaili E. Dupuis, 25, remains wanted.
Patricia Kinchens, is seen here in a 2023 mugshot when she was sentenced for an unrelated probation violation. Breanna Lopez is seen here in her current mugshot,
Alex Lopez, 25, is facing charges of premeditated murder, armed robbery and two other weapons offenses; he is accused of gunning down father of five, Raied “Ray” Shihadeh, 51, at Fast Stop Superette, 3702 Picciola Road, on May 30 during an armed robbery of the store. It was Shihadeh’s daughter’s 16th birthday. Lopez was on the run for nearly a month until he was arrested at a Kissimmee motel June 26. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
Raied “Ray” Shihadeh was murdered May 30, 2024. Photo courtesy of Monique Shihadeh
Kinchens’ booking information and current mugshot were not available at press time; Breanna Lopez is being held on no bond.
TAVARES, Fla.—A Leesburg man remains in the Lake County Jail, accused of stealing an ambulance from a Leesburg hospital last week.
Derek Tyrone Watkins, 22, was apprehended near Independence Boulevard in Groveland by Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies casually strolling away from the ambulance early Friday morning, dash cam video obtained by Inside Lake shows.
According to an arrest affidavit, Watkins stole the fully-stocked ambulance from the emergency bay at UF Health Leesburg Hospital, 600 East Dixie Avenue, Leesburg, while a paramedic from Sumter County cleaned off a stretcher inside the hospital after dropping off a patient around 2:30 a.m. Friday.
Watkins was spotted hanging around the emergency bay by nurses who recognized him, and video surveillance also showed Watkins, positively identified by the responding Leesburg Police Department officer, in the area of the ambulance, the affidavit states. Another surveillance video showed the ambulance speeding out of the hospital parking lot onto Pine Street.
The Leesburg Communication Center (LCC) tracked the ambulance through Sumter County Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and it was tracked speeding south down U.S. Highway 27 until it finally stopped at 2100 Independence Boulevard, Groveland—more than 14 miles away.
Dash cam video shows the moment a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulls up on Derek Watkins. *May contain graphic language.*
LCC relayed the tracking information to LCSO, and a deputy spotted the ambulance and Watkins walking nearby. Watkins was taken into custody by deputies and handed over to LPD. He was arrested for theft of an ambulance and theft of emergency medical equipment. All the medical equipment was accounted for following an inventory of the ambulance.
Watkins was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $55,000 bond.
