Minneola

Minneola woman killed after SUV catches fire in Sumter County crash

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — A 21-year-old Minneola woman was killed in a fiery crash early Tuesday morning in Sumter County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The woman was driving a Mazda CX-9 westbound on County Road 478 when she failed to negotiate a curve west of County Road 747, around 4 a.m., troopers said. The SUV traveled off the roadway, struck a fence and then collided with a tree and caught fire. The driver suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, FHP said. The crash remains under investigation.

Minneola woman killed after SUV catches fire in Sumter County crash Read More »

Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / June 30, 2026

Anonymous threat prompts lockdown at Lake Minneola High Monday

Update 1:55 p.m.: The lockdown at Lake Minneola High School has been lifted.  MINNEOLA, Fla.—An anonymous bomb threat was the cause of the lockdown at Lake Minneola High School Monday, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. “An anonymous caller made a threat this morning against Lake Minneola High School,” LCSO Deputy Stephanie Earley said. “The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating. We have no reason to believe this i s a credible threat, but we are responding with an abundance of caution following protocol to make sure students and staff are safe.” Campus access is temporarily restricted while

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Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / January 12, 2026

Lake Minneola High on lockdown, deputies say

MINNEOLA, Fla.—Lake Minneola High School is on lockdown regarding a bomb threat Monday, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. “Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies are at the school canvassing the area. The investigation is being conducted according to standard protocol and procedures,” LCSO Deputy Stephanie Earley said. This is developing story.

Lake Minneola High on lockdown, deputies say Read More »

Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / January 12, 2026

Stretch of Minneola highway renamed in fallen deputy’s honor Saturday

MINNEOLA, Fla.—It’s been one year since Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the call that claimed the life of Master Deputy Bradley Link and Saturday, a stretch of U.S. Highway 27 in Minneola was renamed in his honor. The Minneola City Council adopted the resolution earlier this year that renamed the portion of the roadway between Division Street and County Road 561. Link’s parents, Daniel and Christi, accepted the resolution and were in attendance for the official renaming on Saturday, along with Link’s wife, Brittany, members of LCSO’s command staff and numerous deputies. Minneola Mayor Pat Kelley led the

Stretch of Minneola highway renamed in fallen deputy’s honor Saturday Read More »

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Minneola, Tavares / By / August 2, 2025

Leesburg motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run crash in Minneola Saturday night

MINNEOLA, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for the driver of a Chevy Tahoe that killed a motorcyclist late Saturday night and fled the scene, FHP said Sunday morning. Just before 10:45 p.m., a 36-year Leesburg woman on a 2009 Yamaha motorcycle was stopped at the traffic light in the inside lane at U.S. Highway 27 and Citrus Grove Road and a 2024 Honda HR-V, was southbound approaching the light, according to FHP. The light turned green, and the motorcycle started to proceed forward and the Honda swerved into the outside lane to avoid the motorcycle. A 2001 Chevy Tahoe

Leesburg motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run crash in Minneola Saturday night Read More »

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Minneola / By / May 11, 2025

2 south Lake County schools on lockdown “out of an abundance of caution”

Update: The suspect has been taken into custody.  MINNEOLA, Fla.—Two schools are on lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” as Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies are attempting to take a subject into custody on a warrant at a home in Minneola, according to LCSO. Lake Minneola High School and Grassy Lake Elementary are currently on lockdown due to their proximity to the incident location off of Hancock Road, LCSO said. No other information was released. This is a developing story.

2 south Lake County schools on lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” Read More »

Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / March 31, 2025

Stretch of Minneola highway to be renamed in fallen deputy’s honor

MINNEOLA, Fla.—The Minneola City Council adopted a resolution Tuesday, designating a portion of U.S. Highway 27 to be renamed in Lake County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Bradley Link’s honor. The stretch of roadway, from Division Street to County Road 561, will be renamed the “Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link Memorial Highway.” Link’s parents accepted the resolution, and once the final bill is approved in Tallahassee, the official change will be made. Link was killed Aug. 3, 2024 when LCSO responded to an altercation and then performed a well-being check in unincorporated Eustis. During the well-being check, Link was shot

Stretch of Minneola highway to be renamed in fallen deputy’s honor Read More »

Minneola, News Briefs, Tavares / By / March 19, 2025

Celebration of Life and Service for fallen LCSO deputy held Saturday

CLERMONT, Fla.— “Let us remember Bradley as a true hero for his courageous actions.” Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stephanie Earley spoke about her dear friend and field training officer Master Deputy Bradley Link at his Celebration of Life and Service Saturday. Thousands of people were in attendance. Earley spoke about the relationship she and her husband had with Link, and his wife, Brittany. The times they spent together playing Catch Phrase and, “our beach days together were the best,” she said. Deputy Matthew Layman, who was Link’s zone partner when he was in the road patrol unit, spoke about

Celebration of Life and Service for fallen LCSO deputy held Saturday Read More »

Clermont, Eustis, Inside Scoop, Minneola, Unincorporated Lake / By / August 10, 2024

BREAKING NEWS: 911 down in Lake County

TAVARES, Fla.—Lake County Public Safety Communications (911) is experiencing intermittent outages due to Hurricane Debby. Residents may not be able to reach dispatchers in an emergency. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call the non-emergency number at 352-343-2101.

BREAKING NEWS: 911 down in Lake County Read More »

Clermont, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-in-the-Hills, Inside Scoop, Lady Lake, Leesburg, Mascotte, Minneola, Montverde, Mount Dora, Tavares, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By / August 5, 2024

Fallen deputy to be transported Monday morning

LEESBURG, Fla.—Lake County Sheriff’s Office fallen deputy Bradley Link will be transported to the funeral home handling his arrangements Monday morning. Link will be escorted by his unit, LCSO Agriculture and Marine, from the Medical Examiner’s Office in Leesburg at 10 a.m. Monday. The public may show their support for Link and LCSO by standing anywhere along U.S. Highway 27, south of Dixie Avenue in Leesburg to the city limits of Minneola.

Fallen deputy to be transported Monday morning Read More »

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Minneola, Unincorporated Lake / By / August 4, 2024

Teen arrested for killing family cat in dryer Monday

MINNEOLA, Fla.—A teenager is facing a charge of animal cruelty—excessively cruel, after putting the family cat in the dryer and killing it, according to an arrest affidavit. Shortly before 6 p.m. Monday, Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home on Plum Lake Drive in Minneola on a report of a suspicious incident. When they arrived, the mother of Cayden Mikkel Williams told a deputy her son had just killed the family cat, named “Mouse” by putting it in the dryer. She said when she was coming into the neighborhood with her other children, she saw Williams walking and

Teen arrested for killing family cat in dryer Monday Read More »

Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / April 2, 2024

Man apologizes for having sex with minor in recorded phone call, facing 13 charges

MINNEOLA, Fla.— An elementary school custodian was arrested last week after an underage girl told her guardian she had sex with him a few days before, according to an arrest affidavit. The girl told Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives James Pacheco, 19, of Minneola, told her he was 17 years old and a student in Groveland after they began communicating in January after meeting on Snapchat. On March 12, the girl, whose age is redacted from the affidavit, went to Pacheco’s Minneola home where they had consensual sex, she said. She said the encounter was painful, but she did not

Man apologizes for having sex with minor in recorded phone call, facing 13 charges Read More »

Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / March 19, 2024

Georgia Man Accused of Shooting Friend as they Travel on the Turnpike near Clermont Sunday Night

CLERMONT, Fla.—A Georgia man is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond after being accused of shooting his friend as they traveled on Florida’s Turnpike late Sunday night. The Florida Highway Patrol asked for assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office around 10:30 p.m. Sunday in reference to a man stopping vehicles and asking for help. Not long after, LCSO received a 911 call from an unnamed individual stating someone was banging on their door and asking for help in unincorporated Clermont, according to an arrest affidavit. Deputies responded to the home and found Bounmy Xayavong, who

Georgia Man Accused of Shooting Friend as they Travel on the Turnpike near Clermont Sunday Night Read More »

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Minneola, Unincorporated Lake / By / February 26, 2024

Benefit for LCSO Deputy Diagnosed with Cancer Scheduled for Saturday

EUSTIS, Fla.—An event to benefit a Lake County Sheriff’s Office school resource deputy who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year is scheduled for Saturday. What started as chest pain in 2022 turned into a terrifying diagnosis last summer for LCSO Cpl. Adam Tytler. In November 2022, Tytler went to a cardiologist for ongoing chest pain, and after a EKG showed his heart was in good shape, the cardiologist told him the pain was likely gastrointestinal. The next month, on Christmas Eve, Tytler discovered a swollen lymph node on his neck and by February the lymph node had not gotten

Benefit for LCSO Deputy Diagnosed with Cancer Scheduled for Saturday Read More »

Eustis, Features, Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Tavares / By / November 15, 2023

Account Established to Benefit Family of Lake Minneola High Senior Tragically Killed in School Bus Crash

MINNEOLA, Fla.—A fundraising account has been established to benefit the family of the Lake Minneola High School (LMHS) student who tragically passed away Monday. Sherman “Isaiah” Vannoy, a 17-year-old senior, was on a bicycle when he was struck by a school bus before daylight Monday morning at the entrance of LMHS. Mary Laurenzi, 78, of Leesburg, who was hired by Lake County Schools in November 2021, was driving the school bus southbound on Hancock Road, south of Fox Trail Avenue, in the left turn lane. Vannoy was riding a bicycle northbound on the north sidewalk of Hancock Road approaching the

Account Established to Benefit Family of Lake Minneola High Senior Tragically Killed in School Bus Crash Read More »

Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / October 3, 2023

Lake County Schools Releases Name of Student Tragically Killed in School Bus Collision Monday, Grief Counselors on Campus

MINNEOLA, Fla.— Lake County Schools (LCS) has released the names of the teen and the bus driver involved in a fatal crash Monday morning at Lake Minneola High School. Sherman Vannoy, 17, was a senior at Lake Minneola High School, Sherri Owens spokesperson for LCS told Inside Lake. “This was a very difficult day for all of us at Lake County Schools,” Owens said in an email. “We are in touch with the family and are offering our support. We have grief counselors on campus this week for any students or faculty members who may need their services.” The bus

Lake County Schools Releases Name of Student Tragically Killed in School Bus Collision Monday, Grief Counselors on Campus Read More »

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Minneola / By / October 2, 2023

Teen Bicyclist Killed in Collision with School Bus near Lake Minneola High School

MINNEOLA, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that killed a 17-year-old bicyclist near Lake Minneola High School Monday morning. “The crash occurred as the bus was turning left into the school from traveling southbound on Hancock Road,” Trooper Migdalisis Garcia told Inside Lake in an email. The crash occurred at 6:50 a.m. near Hancock Road and Fox Trail Avenue and troopers are still investigating the sequence of events that resulted in the crash, Garcia said. The 17-year-old Minneola boy was transported to South Lake Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The bus driver, a 78-year-old woman from Leesburg,

Teen Bicyclist Killed in Collision with School Bus near Lake Minneola High School Read More »

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Minneola / By / October 2, 2023

Minneola Man Captured on Video Stealing from Several Downtown Clermont Businesses

CLERMONT, Florida—A Minneola man is behind bars after video surveillance captured him stealing from several businesses at the Montrose Street Market early Monday. Clermont Police responded to 793 West Montrose Street after the victim reported his security cameras caught a man, later identified as Michael Jacob Mathis, 21, entering the business around 2:30 a.m. through a door that was accidentally left unlocked by a cleaner, according to an arrest affidavit. Mathis, wearing a white hoodie and dark pants, did not cover his face or wear gloves as he made his way through the market, which houses several vendors. He stole

Minneola Man Captured on Video Stealing from Several Downtown Clermont Businesses Read More »

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / July 13, 2023

Leesburg Man Accused of Shooting at Truck with 5-Year-old Child in it During Road Rage Incident on Florida’s Turnpike

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Florida—A Leesburg man is being held in the Osceola County Jail on no bond, accused of shooting a truck that contained a 5-year-old child in a road rage incident on Florida’s Turnpike Sunday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Tara Crescenzi. A trooper was conducting traffic enforcement in the median of Florida’s Turnpike near Kenansville shortly before 6:30 p.m. Sunday when he observed a white sedan driving recklessly and changing lanes around a white pickup truck in the northbound lanes. The trooper made his way into traffic and watched the white car continue to improperly change lanes

Leesburg Man Accused of Shooting at Truck with 5-Year-old Child in it During Road Rage Incident on Florida’s Turnpike Read More »

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Minneola / By / April 17, 2023

4 Teenagers Arrested Sunday After Mount Dora Resident Catches Their Misdeeds on Camera

MOUNT DORA, Florida—Four suspected vehicle burglars were nabbed after a resident notified Mount Dora Police Department his home security system captured them checking the door handles of at least six vehicles early Sunday morning. MDPD responded to the area of Mount Dora Apartments, 3001 Northland Road just before 5 a.m. Sunday after receiving a 9-1-1 call from a resident who said his cameras captured four teens in an older red Toyota sedan checking door handles, according to several arrest affidavits. An officer located the suspected vehicle nearby at Epic Theaters, 2300 Spring Harbor Boulevard and blocked it in and attempted

4 Teenagers Arrested Sunday After Mount Dora Resident Catches Their Misdeeds on Camera Read More »

Inside Scoop, Minneola, Mount Dora / By / April 17, 2023

State Attorney Creates Animal Cruelty Task Force

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

State Attorney Creates Animal Cruelty Task Force Read More »

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 / January 15, 2023

Suspect Who Fled Crash that Killed Teen Confessed to FHP, According to Report

MONTVERDE, Florida—The man who hit a high school freshman earlier this week was found by his boss using a tracking device and turned over to the Florida Highway Patrol, along with the two occupants who were in the car with him, and the driver confessed to the crime, according to a report. Owen Wells, 14, a ninth grader at Lake Minneola High School, was killed around 6:20 a.m. Thursday on County Road 455 near Willo Pines Lane when he was struck by a Pontiac G6 being driven by Enrique Ramirez, 57, of Winter Garden. The impact threw the teen into

Suspect Who Fled Crash that Killed Teen Confessed to FHP, According to Report Read More »

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Minneola, Montverde, Unincorporated Lake / By / November 19, 2022

FHP Arrests Man in Hit and Run Death of Teenager

TAVARES, Florida—The man accused of hitting a Lake Minneola High School freshman and leaving the scene shortly before daybreak Thursday has been arrested, the Florida Highway Patrol said Thursday night. Enrique Ramirez, 57, of Winter Garden was arrested by FHP for leaving the scene of a crash involving death, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said. The boy, whose name was not released, was walking across the lanes of County Road 455 near Willow Pines Lane just before 6:30 a.m. Thursday when he entered the path of a 2007 Pontiac G6 being driven by Ramirez and was struck by the front left

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Clermont, Inside Scoop, Minneola, Montverde, Unincorporated Lake / By / November 17, 2022

Silver Alert Issued for Minneola Man Diagnosed with Dementia

MINNEOLA, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has issued a silver alert for a man who was recently diagnosed with dementia and has not been seen since early Tuesday night. Rodger Stambaugh, 69, left his home at 825 Elm Forrest Drive in Minneola around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday and has not been seen or heard from since, LCSO Lt. John Herrell said in an email. Stambaugh is balding with grey hair, a grey beard and has green eyes; he is 6’1” and should be driving a 2020 black Kia Soul hatchback with temporary tag DGD 5348. If you have information on Stambaugh’s

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Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / October 18, 2022

Written Threat Places Lake Minneola High School on Lockdown

MINNEOLA, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a written shooting threat was received at Lake Minneola High School Thursday afternoon, according to Lt. John Herrell. The threat was received around 1:20 p.m., about 10 minutes before classes change and the school, located at 101 North Hancock Road, was placed on lockdown out of an abundance of caution, Herrell told Inside Lake. The school was checked and deemed safe. No one has been arrested. The threat delayed dismissal for around 10 minutes and there is a heavy law enforcement presence at the school, Herrell said A written threat to

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Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / September 22, 2022

Man Reports Being Stabbed, Gets Arrested

MINNEOLA, Florida—A homeless man who called to report a man stabbed him ended up in jail after it was found he first attacked the man with a PVC pipe. Cody Lee Stout, 25, called 9-1-1 around 6:30 p.m. Thursday and reported a homeless white male stabbed him at Minneola Trailhead Park. LCSO located Stout in Clermont and he said a homeless man named Eric had stabbed him at a homeless camp located behind a business on Jan Mar Court in Minneola, according to an arrested affidavit. Stout, who is also homeless, said he got into a heated argument with the

Man Reports Being Stabbed, Gets Arrested Read More »

Inside Scoop, Minneola / By / November 15, 2021
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