Tavares

PHOTO: Shannon Cook

Fourth Annual Lake County Back the Blue Walk Scheduled for Saturday

Around the County, 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

TAVARES, Florida—Law enforcement and supporters will join forces for the fourth annual Lake County Back the Blue Walk at Wooton Park Saturday morning.

Scheduled for 9 a.m., this is one of many law enforcement events around Lake County held in May during Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. In its fourth year, the walk began in 2019 to show support for law enforcement during a time when the “defund the police” movement was making its way across the country, event organizer Shannon Cook told Inside Lake. Representatives from several law enforcement agencies and numerous public officials are expected to be in attendance.

“The good ones needed to know they were appreciated,” Cook said.

Cook has always had respect for law enforcement officers and the job they do, she said. Her close friend, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Wayne Koester, was killed in the line of duty Feb. 9, 2005. Koester, who was 33 at the time, and two other deputies were ambushed while responding to a domestic violence call. All three deputies were shot, and Koester succumbed to his injuries; the other two deputies recovered. Jason Wheeler was shot and paralyzed during his capture and convicted in Koester’s death. Cook was also close to Chris Daniels, who was serving as Lake County Sheriff when he was tragically killed in a charity bus race in 2006 on his birthday.

Shannon Cook shows off one of the many gifts she has for the law enforcement officers who attend the walk Saturday. PHOTO: Shannon Cook

Cook told Inside Lake it is important the community show its support for all of the good officers and those who were lost in the line of duty. Usually a one-woman show, Cook has some help this year from Wayne Koester’s brother, Victor Koester, Jolie Fowler, owner of The Car Doctor Automotive Specialist Inc., in Eustis, Lt. Kristin Thompson of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Nina Rosania, who is very active in the community, especially in her efforts helping out small businesses in Lake County.

Participants will meet a 9 a.m. at Wooton Park, 100 East Ruby Street, Tavares. The first stop will be the Lake County Administration Building, then a stop at the Tavares Public Safety Complex and the walk will end at Kalua Beach Bar with lunch. Donuts will be provided before the walk by Lake Tire & Auto in Tavares, and a hot dog lunch will be available at Kalua Beach Bar, provided by the restaurant and Duct-Man Mechanical LLC in Eustis.

Fourth Annual Lake County Back the Blue Walk Scheduled for Saturday Read More »

PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff's Office

2 Tavares Middle School Students Arrested Thursday for Threatening School Shooting

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Florida—Two 13-year-old girls were arrested Thursday after Tavares Middle School (TMS) students reported finding a threat written on a mirror in one of the girls’ bathrooms on campus, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The TMS school resource deputy (SRD) quickly identified two female students who might be responsible from video surveillance at the school and deputies searched their backpacks and found markers that matched the writing on the mirror, LCSO said. Grace Edge, of Mount Dora admitted to writing part of the threat and said her friend Amiya Walker, wrote the second half of the message. Walker denied her involvement, according to an arrest affidavit.

Both girls were arrested for written threats to kill and disruption of a school function, transported to the Lake County Jail and then turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

This is the second incident in a Tavares school this week. On Monday, Freddy Adams, 16 was arrested at Tavares High School after being found with a 9mm handgun in his backpack.  

Tavares High School Student Busted with Gun on Campus Monday

2 Tavares Middle School Students Arrested Thursday for Threatening School Shooting Read More »

LCSO: Georgia Man Took $25K from Customers in Fence Scam

Inside Scoop, Unincorporated Lake / By

LAKE COUNTY, Florida—A Georgia man turned himself in at the Lake County Jail Saturday, accused of scamming nine people out of thousands of dollars for fences he failed to deliver.

Christopher Michael Graver, 42, of Cumming, Georgia is accused of taking down payments on fences from nine people for a total of more than $25,000, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Graver, who is the chief executive officer of Allstate Fence & Rail collected 50 percent down payments for fences between March 2021 and June 2021 and gave his customers numerous excuses as to why he could not install the fences, including a delay in materials, and problems with permits, according to the affidavit written by a Lake County Sheriff’s Office detective.

Financial records showed Graver paid off an American Express card that was used for personal expenses including family vacations, fine dining and alcohol. After the funds for the business were depleted, the business filed for bankruptcy in November 2021, the affidavit states.

A warrant was issued for Graver’s arrest in February for nine counts of grand theft and one count of scheme to defraud. He turned himself in at LCJ Saturday, where he was released on $23,000 bond.

Christopher Graver PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

LCSO: Georgia Man Took $25K from Customers in Fence Scam Read More »

PHOTO: Tavares High School/Facebook

Tavares High School Student Busted with Gun on Campus Monday

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Florida—A Tavares High School student was found with a gun on campus Monday, according to an arrest affidavit.

Freddy Adams, 16, was pulled out of class around 12:30 p.m. Monday because he and two other students were believed to be under the influence of the drugs, the affidavit states. Adams’ backpack was searched by an assistant principal and he found a small black bag that contained a Remington Arms R51 9mm. The names of the other two students were not released.

The gun was not loaded, but the AP found a magazine that contained six 9mm rounds in the bag with the gun, according to the affidavit. Adams, of Leesburg, was arrested by THS’ school resource deputy for possession of a firearm on school property, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a firearm by a minor; he was transported to the Lake County Jail.

Tavares High School Student Busted with Gun on Campus Monday Read More »

Late Night Head-On Crash Kills Eustis Man and Altoona Woman Saturday

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Florida—Two people are dead following a head-crash on a busy Tavares Road Saturday night.

Shortly before 10:45 pm. Tavares Police Department responded to a report of a crash near County Road 561 and Lona Street. According to witnesses and evidence on scene, a 2019 black Nissan Sentra being driven by Scott Alexander Sawyer, 29, of Eustis, was speeding northbound on County Road 561 and attempted to pass vehicles on a double yellow line. He struck a 2008 gray Mazda Tribute head-on being driven southbound by Lindsay Marie Baker, 26, of Altoona, TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan told Inside Lake.

“Several area first responders responded to the scene in an attempt to render aid and assist with the investigation,” Sullivan said in an email.

Baker and Sawyer were both pronounced deceased following the crash and TPD traffic homicide investigators responded to the scene and took over the investigation, Sullivan said.

The crash shut down County Road 561 for several hours and remains under investigation.

Late Night Head-On Crash Kills Eustis Man and Altoona Woman Saturday Read More »

Timothy Evans was apprehended near a Tavares motel in March 2022. COURTESY PHOTO

Man Apprehended in Tavares by Multiple Agencies Last Year Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Mount Dora, Tavares / By

OCALA, Florida—A Leesburg man who was apprehended near a Tavares motel more than a year ago has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

Timothy Eric “Tater” Evans, 41, was taken into custody March 3, 2022 near La Bella Inn, 101 West Burleigh Boulevard by multiple agencies on a federal warrant issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) stemming from an incident that occurred in Tavares on May 21, 2021.

In May 2021, Evans was found with a stolen vehicle and an officer with Tavares Police Department searched the stolen vehicle and found MDMA, also known as Molly, and a loaded gun in the center console. A search of Evans’ phone revealed numerous photos of illegal narcotics and guns, along with messages in which Evans was attempting to buy and sell guns, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The gun charge was dropped by the state and picked up by the U.S. Attorney’s Office; Evans pleaded guilty in June 2022.

Evans was later taken into custody in Tavares with the cooperation of multiple agencies, including ATF, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Mount Dora Police Department and Tavares Police Department.

PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

“We assisted ATF, FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) and Mount Dora Police Department in the apprehension of Timothy Evans on an active federal warrant,” TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan told Inside Lake last year. TPD also transported Evans to the Lake County Jail, according to a report.

According to an MDPD report, officers from that agency assisted with blocking eastbound traffic on U.S. Highway 441 near the motel and Evans and another male were ordered out of the vehicle they were in and taken into custody without incident. The vehicle was then towed to MDPD for secure storage.

Multiple sources, as far back as November 2021, have told Inside Lake Evans, an eight-time convicted felon, is suspected of committing a high-profile crime in the area, but he has never been arrested for the crime. Evans’ case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together many levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun violence, the U.S Attorney’s Office said. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk prosecuted the case.

Multiple Agencies Assist In Apprehension Of Man Wanted On Federal Charges In Tavares Thursday Night

Man Apprehended in Tavares by Multiple Agencies Last Year Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison Read More »

File photo

Woman Slams into Stopped Vehicle in front of Tavares Cop, Admits She was Drinking a Beer When She Crashed

Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

TAVARES, Florida—A Tavares woman admitted she was drinking a beer when she slammed into the back of another vehicle stopped at a traffic light Wednesday night—right in front of a Tavares Police officer.

The TPD officer was sitting at the traffic light at U.S. Highway 441 and Huffstetler Drive shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday when she saw a white car slam into the back of a black Chevy at an estimated 50 miles per hour, according to an arrest affidavit.

The officer requested EMS and then approached Mary Gwendolyn Bollinger, 64, who was stumbling outside of her car while she checked for damage. Bollinger, of Tavares, smelled of alcohol, according to the affidavit, and had glassy eyes and slurred her speech as she spoke to the officer.

Mary Bollinger PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

EMS arrived on scene and checked Bollinger out, along with the occupants of the Chevy and none of the parties were transported to the hospital. Bollinger admitted to EMS she had been drinking about three hours prior to the crash.

Bollinger’s car was towed, and she was given a citation for careless driving; the occupants of the Chevy were released from the scene, the affidavit states.

TPD told Bollinger there were indicators she was impaired, and she admitted she had been drinking and agreed to perform field sobriety exercises. She showed “many indicators of impairment” and was arrested for DUI second offense and transported to the Lake County Jail.

While at LCJ, Bollinger provided two breath samples, one registering at .132 and the other at .13, well over the legal limit; she admitted she drank four beers beginning at 5 p.m. and was drinking a beer when she crashed into the Chevy. She was booked into LCJ and released on $2,000 bond Thursday.

Woman Slams into Stopped Vehicle in front of Tavares Cop, Admits She was Drinking a Beer When She Crashed Read More »

Dry Conditions Force Countywide Burn Ban

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

LAKE COUNTY, Florida—Lake County officials imposed a burn ban effective Friday that will last indefinitely, according to a press release.

The burn ban is in effect for all of Lake County and prohibits the burning of yard debris, land and recreational fires but does not include outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills and barbecue pits that have a total fuel area of 3 feet or less and 2 feet or less in height.

Dry conditions forced the move by county officials and surrounding counties have enacted similar bans. For more than three weeks, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) rating has exceeded 500 and the ban is necessary for public safety, the press release stated.

When the KDBI rating falls below 500 for seven consecutive days, the county will lift the ban.

Dry Conditions Force Countywide Burn Ban Read More »

PHOTO: Mercedes-Benz

Stolen $100K SUV Spotted by Deputy at Gas Pump

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares / By

EUSTIS, Florida—A $100,000 stolen SUV spotted at a gas pump by a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy landed a Eustis man in jail Sunday on multiple charges, including trafficking in heroin.

Shortly after 1:45 p.m. Sunday the deputy was patrolling the area of Orange Avenue and Abrams Road when he saw a 2024 white Mercedes SUV that matched the description of an SUV recently stolen from Tavares at a gas pump. The SUV is valued at $100,000 according to the affidavit.

LCSO pulled into Circle K, 2754 East Orange Avenue, and observed a man, later identified as Trevon Markques Williams, sitting in the driver’s seat of the of the SUV while the gas nozzle was inserted in the tank on the passenger side of the vehicle. As the deputy approached the SUV from behind, he ran the license plate and confirmed it was the stolen SUV,  the affidavit states.

Trevon Williams PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

Williams, 26, complied with the deputy’s commands and was taken into custody. LCSO searched Williams and found a small bag of marijuana in his right pocket and then searched the SUV.  Less than a gram of cocaine was found in a cigar package in the driver’s door and then LCSO found a Mickey Mouse backpack. Inside the backpack, the deputy found a trafficking amount heroin—17 grams. A scale was also found in the center console, according to the affidavit.

Williams was arrested for grand theft auto, trafficking in heroin, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia; he is being held in the Lake County Jail on $31,000 bond.

Stolen $100K SUV Spotted by Deputy at Gas Pump Read More »

PHOTO: Marion County Jail

Marion County Man Accused of Child Sex Crimes in Eustis

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Tavares, Umatilla / By

TAVARES, Florida—A Marion County man taken into custody by U.S. Marshals last week in Marion County on a warrant for sex crimes against a young child in Eustis has been transferred to the Lake County Jail.

William Grady Keel, 26, was picked up by U.S. Marshals on a warrant for sexual battery on a child under 12 and lewd or lascivious molestation on a child under 12 on Thursday, Eustis Police Department Capt. Dave Carney told Inside Lake. According to the address listed for Keel on LCJ’s online booking records, Keel lives in the Umatilla area of Marion County. The city limits of Umatilla are in Lake County, but a portion of Marion County has Umatilla addresses.  

The investigation into the allegations against Keel began when an anonymous call was made to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the agency requested EPD’s assistance because the alleged crimes occurred in Eustis. Carney said. The relationship between Keel and his female victim was not released because it may identify her.

The child was interviewed by the Children’s Advocacy Center and she made statements about sexual behavior that a child her age should not know, Carney said. EPD did not release the child’s exact age, only that she is under 10 years old. Physical evidence also backed up the claims of abuse, Carney said.

Keel knew he was under investigation, Carney told Inside Lake, and he made comments that he would not be arrested easily, so the Marshals were asked to pick him up.

“Before he knew it, he was in custody,” Carney said.

Keel was held in the Marion County Jail on no bond until he was transferred to the Lake County Jail Monday morning, where he continues to be held on no bond.

Marion County Man Accused of Child Sex Crimes in Eustis Read More »

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