Mascotte

File photo

State Attorney Creates Animal Cruelty Task Force

Astatula, Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By

OCALA, Florida—In an effort to streamline delivering justice to those who hurt animals, State Attorney Bill Gladson has created an Animal Cruelty Task Force for the Fifth Judicial Circuit that includes Lake, Citrus, Hernando, Marion and Sumter counties, his office said in a press release last week.

The task force includes the Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC,) county animal services, and local law enforcement agencies and the goal is for law enforcement, animal services and animal protection organizations to work together to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty crimes throughout the circuit, according to the press release.

State Attorney Bill Gladson PHOTO: Florida Bar

“My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting animal cruelty cases, and I am grateful for the team which shares our commitment,” Gladson stated. “The reach of these crimes goes beyond harm to innocent animals; these criminals pose a risk to the entire community.”

Animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, nearly 70 percent have criminal records.

State Attorney Creates Animal Cruelty Task Force Read More »

The City of Mascotte released photos of a car suspected of trying to lure two children Thursday morning,

Mascotte Parents Urged to be Extra Vigilant After Unidentified Man Tries to Lure 2 Small Children to His Car Thursday Morning

Inside Scoop, Mascotte / By

MASCOTTE, Florida—Mascotte Police Department is investigating a suspicious incident that involved two small children Thursday morning, according to a social media post by the City of Mascotte.

Around 7:30 a.m. Thursday an older Hispanic man with balding or short hair and stubble on his face, approached two children ages 8 and 10 near the area of Ridgemoor Drive and American Legion Road. The man is alleged to have asked the children in Spanish to come to his vehicle, believed to be a silver 2021 Toyota Corolla. The children refused and the suspect circled back around and told them to get in his car again. The children ran home, and the Corolla left the area in an unknown direction, according to the Facebook post.

MPD canvassed the immediate area with negative results but did obtain a video of the suspected vehicle. The car is described as a silver 2021 Toyota Corolla with “extremely dark” tinted windows. MPD notified surrounding schools and bulletin with a photo of the suspect’s car was sent to local law enforcement agencies.

MPD will be conducting extra patrols each morning and afternoon and urged parents to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activities to MPD.  

Mascotte Parents Urged to be Extra Vigilant After Unidentified Man Tries to Lure 2 Small Children to His Car Thursday Morning Read More »

File photo

See Something, Say Something. Student Comes Forward after Seeing Gun on School Bus

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Mascotte / By

MASCOTTE, Florida—A Lake Hills Academy student was arrested Thursday after another student came forward to the school’s administration about a gun on a school bus, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. John Herrell.

Deputies had reason to believe the gun was left on the bus and went to the bus parking lot of Golf Links Avenue in Eustis and found the gun wrapped in a sweatshirt on a seat. The gun was not loaded.

LCSO retrieved video surveillance from the bus, and Trace James Richardson, 16, was seen on video removing his sweatshirt and leaving the Glock handgun on the seat.

Due to the video evidence and witness statements, Richardson was arrested for possessing a firearm on school property and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice. His booking photo was not available at press time.

Lake Hills Academy, 513 Albrook Street, Mascotte, is an alternative school, Herrell said.

See Something, Say Something. Student Comes Forward after Seeing Gun on School Bus Read More »

PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff's Office

Mascotte Woman Accused of Public Assistance Fraud

Inside Scoop, Mascotte / By

MASCOTTE, Florida—A woman picked up on a warrant for public assistance fraud, earned nearly $60,000 in 22 months, but claimed she only made $300 per week, according to a criminal complaint.

Rebecca Linda Rojas, 35, of Mascotte, is accused of stealing more than $4,100 in food stamp benefits and nearly $170 in Medicaid benefits between May 2019 and December 2020, according to the complaint filed by an investigator with the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Rojas was taken into custody by Mascotte Police Department May 28 and transported to the Lake County Jail, where she was released on $2,000 bond.

Mascotte Woman Accused of Public Assistance Fraud Read More »

Scroll to Top