MARION COUNTY, Fla.—A 76-year-old woman of The Villages was killed Saturday morning after she pulled out in front of a pickup truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The woman was driving an SUV east on Northwest 85th Loop at U.S. Highway 441 and attempted to make a lefthand turn onto U.S. Highway 441, around 9:30 a.m. She pulled out in front of a pickup truck traveling in the outside southbound lane and the front of the truck collided with the left side of the SUV. FHP said.
The woman was transported to HCA Ocala Hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The driver of the truck, a 38-year-old Ruskin man, was seriously injured, along with a male passenger of Kennett Square, Penn. Two other passengers in the truck, a male and female, also of Kennett Square, suffered minor injuries.
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 any better. He was also suffering from a sinus infection at the time and went to his primary care doctor for treatment and mentioned the lymph node. The doctor chalked it up to the infection, but during the spring Tytler’s chest pain continued and had also moved to his back, and then he began to find swollen lymph nodes on his chest.
Tytler went through a battery of tests and upon reviewing the results, his doctor said it was likely cancer. Tytler sought a second opinion from the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and his fears were confirmed when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma in June 2023.
Tytler, his wife Tiffany, and two daughters, Shay 17, Lily, 14, are currently splitting their time between Mount Dora and Tampa for treatment and it is taking a financial toll on the family while already dealing with an emotional roller coaster. Tytler said he came forward with his struggle because cancer affects millions of people and often they go through it alone.
“I would have given up if it weren’t for my faith, my family and the support from the school resource deputy unit,” Tytler said. “I only wanted for those who are struggling to know they are not alone. Not now. Not ever and to never give up.”
Tytler’s struggle inspired Shannon Cook, organizer of Lake County’s annual Back the Blue Walk, and LCSO Lt. Kristin Thompson to create the benefit scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at That Place, 925 North Bay Street, Eustis.
Dinners will be available for purchase, along with an auction of numerous items, including a Back the Blue basket with items from multiple Lake County law enforcement agencies, tickets to various events, like New Kids on the Block concert tickets and Richard Petty Driving Experience, along with a Yeti cooler packed with alcohol, various craft items made by local residents, a high-end fishing pole and numerous other items. A poker scramble is also scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at Gator Harley-Davidson, 1745 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg, and will include five stops, ending at That Place, Cook told Inside Lake.
Tytler has spent nearly his entire adult life at LCSO, and most recently worked as a corporal in the school resource deputy unit. He prevented a shooting on the Eustis High School campus during the 2018-2019 school year and was awarded the Lake County Officer of the Year in 2019 for his efforts.
He said he is excited he has only one treatment left, and it has been a difficult journey. “Truthfully, it’s been challenging and difficult treatment-wise, not just for me but my family also,” Tytler said.
He will have to wait until after the new year to find out if he is cancer-free, he said.
Tytler told Inside Lake saying thank you to all those who have helped him, and contributed to the benefit will never be enough.
“My family and I are so appreciative and overwhelmed of the outpouring of love and support from everyone. Especially from people I’ve never met,” he said.
THE VILLAGES, Fla.—The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a Lady Lake man who has not been seen since Tuesday morning, it said in a social media post.
Ryan Kenney, 52, who has a history of medical issues, was last seen Tuesday morning on his silver bicycle around the area of Lake Sumter Landing. He is described at a white male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown plaid shirt and shorts, according to SCSO. If you see Kenney or know his whereabouts, call SCSO at 352-793-2621.
THE VILLAGES, Fla.—A 89-year-old man is in serious condition after driving his golf cart into the path of a car Tuesday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The 89-year-old man of The Villages was driving a golf cart northbound on a golf cart path shortly before 8 a.m. when he turned left in front of a car near Woodridge Drive in Sumter County, according to FHP.
The golf cart driver struck the left side of the car, being driven by a 69-year-old Lady Lake man. The golf cart driver was seriously injured; the Lady Lake man and his 69-year-old female passenger were not injured, FHP said.
LADY LAKE, Florida—A Lake City man suspected of a one-day shoplifting spree at Best Buy stores in Gainesville and Ocala was arrested by Lady Lake Police Department Friday after fleeing from officers in Best Buy parking lot Friday, according to an arrest affidavit.
LLPD responded to Best Buy, 552 North Highway 27/441, Lady Lake to meet with the manager about theft suspects who had already stolen from Best Buy stores in Gainesville and Ocala. The manager believed the suspects were headed to Lady Lake and provided officers with still photos of a white male wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and white high-top shoes stealing a laptop. The manager also provided a photo of the suspect leaving in a dark-colored Cadillac sedan with a partial view of the license plate, the affidavit states.
As officers were leaving, they spotted a car matching the suspect vehicle and the license plate matched the partial plate in the photo. A black male exited the driver’s door and a white male, later identified as Clifford Charles Boyette-Carter, 26, exited the passenger door. The pair ran toward Papa John’s and China Max and officers found Boyette-Carter near China Max. He attempted to walk away and was cut off by an LLPD cruiser and when a sergeant started to speak to him, he kicked off his white high-top shoes and fled. Boyette-Carter ran north across Rolling Acres Road, hopped a fence, ran into the Oak Meadows neighborhood, doubled back and again ran toward Rolling Acres Road and then hopped a second fence and ran through the main gate of The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake.
The LLPD sergeant called for the school to be placed on lockdown at 2:15 p.m. while parents were lined up to pick up their children. Boyette-Carter fled down the parent pick-up line and tried to enter an occupied vehicle, according to the affidavit. He continued to flee, hopped another fence and entered the courtyard area, ran through metal doors and ran back toward the parent pickup area. He was finally tackled by a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy who responded to assist LLPD. Boyette-Carter was taken into custody and identified himself to officers and deputies. He said he ran because he had warrants from Jacksonville and did not want to be taken into custody.
The laptops allegedly stolen from Best Buy in Ocala and Gainesville were found in the vehicle Boyette-Cater was riding in and he said he really did not know the black male driving the vehicle, but provided his name, the name of the mother of his child and the name of the registered owner of the vehicle, the arresting officer noted.
Boyette-Carter was arrested for resisting arrest, loitering and prowling, trespassing on school grounds and interfering with school administration functions. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $3,500 bond.
SUMTER COUNTY, Florida—Four people were seriously injured in an early morning crash near The Villages, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
A 35-year-old Leesburg man was driving a sedan eastbound on State Road 44 when he sped through a red light and collided with an SUV being driven by a 32-year-old Wildwood woman that was traveling southbound on Morse Boulevard, FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said in a press release.
Both vehicles rotated and came to a final stop on the south shoulder of State Road 44, while the front axle of the sedan and the engine block of the SUV came to a final rest in the westbound lanes, Gaskins said.
Both drivers and two passengers in the sedan, a 22-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, both of Leesburg, were all transported to local hospitals with serious injuries. All the occupants of the sedan are in serious condition and the driver of the SUV is in critical condition, according to Gaskins.
The crash shut down the eastbound lanes of State Road 44 and the lanes were still closed nearly seven hours after the crash. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office assisted FHP with traffic control.
SUMTER COUNTY, Florida—An 80-year-old bicyclist was killed after a golf cart turned into his path Friday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Villages man was riding his bicycle westbound on the Hillsborough Trail shortly before 8:30 a.m. when a golf cart being driven by a 69-year-old woman of Rochester, New York, turned left at the intersection of Ichabod Way, directly in his path. The golf cart driver was unable to see the man due to the glare of the early morning sun, FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said in a press release.
The bicyclist struck the golf cart, was thrown into the road and seriously injured. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries; the golf cart driver was not hurt, Gaskins said.
FRUITLAND PARK, Florida—A new, daytime monthly market is set to begin this Friday in Fruitland Park.
Orange Blossom Market Co. has partnered with the City of Fruitland Park to create the Fruitland Park First Friday Market. The market is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Friday of each month at Fruitland Park City Hall, 506 West Berckman Street and will run through May, taking a break during the sweltering summer months and kicking back off in September, Orange Blossom Market Co. Founder and Organizer Sheena Willis told Inside Lake.
“The market will be a place where locals can come together with small businesses from within their community to purchase fresh foods and unique finds in an atmosphere where guests will look forward to attending again,” Willis said.
More than 30 vendors will be on site with produce, handmade wares, baked goods and food trucks. Some of the vendors include Bite Out Of Hunger, specializing in dips and salsas, Sugar Valley Farms with its full line of maple products and Lady T Lemonade with its specialty fruit-infused lemonades.
Vendor spots are closed for the inaugural market this Friday, but Willis is accepting applications for the April market, she said. If you are interested in becoming a vendor at future Fruitland Park First Friday Markets, visit, Fruitland Park First Friday April application.
SUMTER COUNTY, Florida—A motorcyclist was ejected from his motorcycle and killed Wednesday morning after a sedan rear-ended him on State Road 44 near County Road 44A in Sumter County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The 65-year-old motorcyclist of Bushnell, was westbound on State Road 44, when a sedan being driven by a 44-year-old man of The Villages, “overtook and collided with the rear of the motorcycle,” shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday, FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said in a press release.
The motorcyclist was ejected and suffered fatal injuries; the driver of the sedan was not injured, Gaskins said.
THE VILLAGES, Florida—A man who was causing a disturbance at a popular town square resisted Lady Lake Police officers and tried to fight them as they took him into custody, according to an arrest affidavit.
LLPD responded to Main Street and Paige Place in Spanish Springs Town Square on a report of a man yelling and disturbing the peace around 11 a.m. Thursday. They found Eric Alan Feliciano, 29, at the scene and attempted to speak to him, the affidavit states.
Feliciano, of Oxford, refused to identify himself and began yelling at officers, causing patrons to stop and see what was happening, the arresting officer noted in the affidavit. A second officer spoke with the complainant, a property manager for The Villages, who stated Feliciano was playing loud music, smoking marijuana in public and entering numerous stores and screaming at the store owners, scaring them.
PHOTO: The Villages
Officers told Feliciano he was being arrested for disorderly conduct, and he immediately began resisting as an officer tried to handcuff him and tried to push back as officers walked him to a patrol vehicle. Once they arrived at the vehicle, Feliciano resisted officers while they tried to search him and kicked an officer in the leg, according to the affidavit.
On the trip to the Lake County Jail, he made “vague threats” that he would “find” officers and harm them after he was released from jail. The vague threats were not enough to add additional charges to Feliciano, the officer noted.
When they arrived at LCJ, Feliciano refused to get out of the patrol vehicle and resisted LCJ detention deputies as they attempted to search him and he was placed in a restraint chair, the affidavit states.
Feliciano is facing four charges, including disorderly conduct, resisting with violence, resisting without violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. He is being held in LCJ on $11,500 bond.
