Okahumpka

OKAHUMPKA, Fla.—A 27-year-old man is behind bars after an elderly woman he is related to reported he stole her car and battered her Tuesday.

Around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, the 77-year-old woman told deputies Alan Aspinwall wanted her to unlock her 2018 Toyota Corolla so he could get something out of the trunk in Okahumpka, according to an arrest affidavit.

As she walked outside, Aspinwall grabbed the key from her, cutting her left hand, and then forcefully pushed her to the ground. He then jumped into the Corolla and fled the scene. She identified Aspinall as her relative, but the exact relationship is redacted from the affidavit.

On Wednesday morning, Leesburg Police Department located the car in the 2100 block of Johns Avenue and around 2:15 p.m. officers located Aspinwall and took him into custody, the affidavit states.

Aspinwall denied taking the car, but said he felt “remorseful” for what happened and wrote a four-page apology letter to the victim, according to the affidavit.

Aspinwall, who is designated as a violent felony offender due to prior convictions, was arrested for unarmed carjacking, battery on a person over 65 and theft from a person over 65. He is also facing an added charge of exposure of sexual organs in a separate incident, but details of that case were not available at press time.

Aspinwall is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.