Umatilla Archives - Page 6 of 7

Team Effort in Operation Sneak-A-Peek Nets Largest Fentanyl Haul in County History

Clermont, Eustis, Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Mount Dora, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Florida—Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell has a message for those dealing drugs in Lake County…to be continued.

Announcing the largest fentanyl haul in Lake County history at a press conference Thursday, Grinnell spoke to members of the media about a 4-month operation that resulted in 27 people facing drug-related charges after detectives with multiple agencies targeted three high-level drug traffickers and their associates across the county.

Cliff “Sneak” Johnson, 40, Andrew “Smurf” Woodruff, 37, and Charles, “Cuz” Carter, 50, who have collectively been arrested 75 times for felonies, were the main targets of “Operation Sneak-A-Peek” Grinnell told reporters Thursday afternoon.

“Mr. Johnson goes by the street name, “Sneak,” and our detectives took a peek and what Mr. Sneak was up to; hence, the name of this operation,” Grinnell said.

Detectives from LCSO, Clermont Police Department, Eustis Police Department, Leesburg Police Department and Mount Dora Police Department, DEA, FBI, Homeland Security and the Fifth Circuit State Attorney’s Office investigated the trio and found that fentanyl was coming from Mexico into California and Texas and making its way to Lake County, either by shipping methods or transported by vehicle, Grinnell said.

“This was truly a team effort,” Grinnell said.

Detectives traveled to Georgia and throughout Florida to crack the case, according to the sheriff.

Detectives recovered a large amount of drugs, including 3.1 pounds of fentanyl, 1.11 ounces of fentanyl pills, 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of cocaine, 1.2 ounces of crack cocaine, 5.7 ounces of heroin, 10 ounces of MDMA and 15 pounds of marijuana. Thirteen guns were recovered, three of which were stolen, in addition to $12,000 in cash, four vehicles and three pill presses. The drugs have a wholesale street value of nearly $300,000 Grinnell said.

Johnson, of Leesburg, is being held in the Sumter County Jail on no bond and is facing 23 charges, including trafficking, conspiracy to commit trafficking, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and possession of numerous different drugs; Woodruff, of Mount Dora, is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond and is facing four charges, racketeering, conspiracy to commit trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine and, unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Carter, of Leesburg, is charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine, and conspiracy to commit racketeering. He is also being held in LCJ on no bond.

The operation also revealed the suspects were dealing Isotonitazene, commonly known as ISO, a synthetic opioid that can be 20 to 100 times more potent than fentanyl, Grinnell said.

Seventeen suspects have been arrested and cops are still looking for nine more.

Grinnell had a message for those he calls “pushers of poison.”

“Operations like these save lives and put the pushers of poison behind bars. So here in Lake County, I say, to be continued.”

State Attorney Bill Gladson said some of the charges carry minimum mandatory prison sentences of at least 15 years.

Several documents in each of the suspects’ cases have been sealed and many details of the undercover operation are not available.

Team Effort in Operation Sneak-A-Peek Nets Largest Fentanyl Haul in County History Read More »

Umatilla Man Accused of Hugging and Trying to Kiss Girl, 11

Inside Scoop, Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego

UMATILLA, Florida—A Umatilla man has bonded out of jail on child abuse and battery charges after an 11-year-old girl accused him of hugging her, rubbing her legs and trying to kiss her, according to an arrest affidavit.

Umatilla Police Department responded to a home Monday after the girl reported to her parents Hector Laguna-Ruiz, 47, touched her. She said Laguna-Ruiz hugged her and tried to kiss her several times and she pushed him away and told him to leave, when he came into her room around 1 a.m., the affidavit states. She said Laguna-Ruiz left and returned 20 minutes later and asked if he could hug her. She said, “no,” and went into the bathroom and Laguna-Ruiz continued to ask her through the door. Then she went to her bed; he sat down and began rubbing her legs and knees and she repeatedly told him to leave.

Laguna-Ruiz told the girl not to tell her parents and he left.

UPD questioned Laguna-Ruiz, who was sleeping on a hammock on the property, and he said he did hug the girl, give her jewelry and money, but did not touch her. He also told police he lets her keep his wallet and money for safekeeping, but the girl said she never did that before now, the affidavit states.

Laguna-Ruiz was taken into custody and transported to LCJ, where he was released on $6,000 bond.

Umatilla Man Accused of Hugging and Trying to Kiss Girl, 11 Read More »

First responders stand near the scene of a fatal motorcycle crash in Umatilla Saturday morning.

Motorcyclist Killed in Umatilla Saturday Morning

Inside Scoop, Umatilla, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

UMATILLA, Florida—A 64-year-old DeLand man was killed when he failed to negotiate a curve on County Road 450 Saturday morning, the Florida Highway patrol said Saturday.

Shortly before 10:45 a.m., the man was traveling eastbound on a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle when he failed the negotiate a curve on County Road 450, also known as East Collins Street, near 9^th Avenue, FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi said in a press release.

The motorcycle left the roadway and overturned; the man was pronounced dead on the scene. He was not wearing a helmet.

The crash remains under investigation.

Motorcyclist Killed in Umatilla Saturday Morning Read More »

Umatilla Man Nabbed for Admittedly Smashing ATM

Inside Scoop, Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego

UMATILLA, Florida—A man who inconvenienced numerous people in Umatilla last month by admittedly breaking a Bank of America ATM, was picked up on a warrant for the crime Thursday, according to jail records.

Several witnesses told Umatilla Police Department, a man, later identified as Michael Allen Connell, 31, punched and used pliers to hit the ATM located in the shopping center that includes Pizza Hut and Save-A-Lot on Central Avenue May 25. Connell broke the machine and caused more than $4,600 worth of damage, before he rode away on his bicycle, according to an arrest affidavit.

Connell went to a nearby convenience store following the crime and made a remark about robbing the store and he “hopes no one uses the Bank of America ATM,” the affidavit states. UPD officers caught up with Connell at another nearby store and questioned him about the incident, according to the affidavit.

Connell told an officer he punched the ATM and hit it with pliers because it took his trust card. Connell was detained and the pliers were taken into evidence, along with a credit card that did not belong to Connell. UPD was unable to reach a representative from Bank of America to ascertain whether the company wanted to press charges, according to the affidavit, and Connell was released on the scene.

The following day a Bank of America representative contacted UPD and said the company wanted to pursue charges and a felony criminal mischief warrant was issued for Connell’s arrest May 26. He was picked up by UPD Thursday and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $2,000 bond.

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Ray Bryant Jr., Community Leader and Volunteer, Passes Away Unexpectedly

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Mount Dora, Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego

UMATILLA, Florida—A well-known and well-loved community leader unexpectedly passed away last week.

Social media posts began flooding Facebook, just a few hours after Ray “Ray Ray” Bryant, 55, died Wednesday. Bryant, of Altoona, was the owner and sensei of Central Florida Karate in Umatilla for more than 30 years and later, Central Florida Karate 2 in Mount Dora, according to his obituary.

He impacted hundreds of children’s lives in the community through karate and founded Alee Academy in Eustis.

Katie Mansfield, of Eustis, who trained with Bryant for five years when she was a child, told Inside Lake she was devastated when she found out, “Sensei saved my life at such a young age. He brought me from the pits of hell and showed me how to keep my head on straight and protect myself,” she said. “I will forever be grateful for the life lessons he taught me. There are not enough words to express my gratitude and the countless memories I have inside his dojo. He will forever be missed.”

Katie Mansfield, right, trained with Ray Bryant Jr. for five years. PHOTO: Submitted

Bryant was a state, national and world kickboxing champion and was an ambassador and U.S. coach for the International Sport Kickboxing Association, a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the Lake County Airboat Club.

Bryant loved the outdoors and volunteered with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team since 2007, LCSO Sgt. Matt Farner told Inside Lake. Farner, who is the sergeant in the Agriculture and Marine Unit said Bryant was a critical component to the Search and Rescue Team and volunteered his time, equipment and gas to the rescue efforts.

”Ray was an asset and very valuable to the community,” Farner said. “He was our go-to guy and was always willing to donate his time.”

Bryant and his father, Ray Bryant Sr., both volunteered before their passings, “They really were our main guys,” Farner said.

Bryant most recently helped in the search and rescue of Davidson Anjab, 39, who went missing during a canoe trip at Alexander Springs in April. Anjab was found safe after two days of searching.

“It (his passing) was shock to all of us,” Farner said. “He was a huge asset and a friend. We all loved the guy.”

Bryant is survived by his wife, Catherine “Mouse” Millner; three sons, Dalton, Dakota and Doron; his daughter, Madeline; his brother, George; his aunt, Jennie Louer; his nephew, Cody and his niece, Bella.

A celebration of life is scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Bryant Compound, 45445 State Road 19, Altoona. Harden/Pauli Funeral Home in Eustis is handling the arrangements.

Ray Bryant Jr., Community Leader and Volunteer, Passes Away Unexpectedly Read More »

Jewelry Store Employee Who Admitted Stealing Nearly $2,000 in Merchandise said She Took it Home By Accident

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego

LEESBURG, Florida—A woman who wore stolen jewelry to work at the place she stole it from turned herself into Leesburg Police Department Thursday afternoon, according to an arrest affidavit.

Payton Elaine Alexander, 25, of the Marion County portion of unincorporated Umatilla, stands accused of stealing jewelry from Piercing Pagoda, located inside Lake Square Mall, while she worked there from November 2021 through February, when the thefts were discovered.

In February, Piercing Pagoda’s Senior Manager of Loss Prevention emailed a Leesburg Police Department detective and asked if there were any pawn hits on Alexander and there were none. The manager sent a second email on March 7 and said he discovered around 40 pieces of jewelry were missing since August 2021. The manager interviewed Alexander two days later and she admitted to stealing 26 pieces of jewelry valued at nearly $2,000 beginning in November 2021, according to the affidavit.

Alexander left the interview, recovered 25 pieces of jewelry and returned them. Alexander said she had one more piece at home and would return it later, according to the affidavit.

LPD responded to the kiosk and the store manager said the loss prevention manager told her to file a police report. The store manager told police she received in anonymous tip in early February advising Alexander had been stealing jewelry. The store manager and loss prevention manager launched an investigation and found that more than $2,000 in jewelry was missing and Alexander had been observed at work wearing the jewelry, the affidavit states. The manager signed an intent to prosecute for the thefts.

Three days later, the loss prevention manager called the LPD detective and said Alexander returned the final piece of jewelry on March 9 and she was fired.

On Thursday, the LPD detective went to Alexander’s Marion County home, spoke with her roommate, and said Alexander needed to turn herself in. Alexander did turn herself in and stated she took the jewelry home by accident after wearing it during work to show it off to customers.

Alexander was arrested for grand theft and transported to the Lake County Jail, where she was released on $2,000 bond.

Jewelry Store Employee Who Admitted Stealing Nearly $2,000 in Merchandise said She Took it Home By Accident Read More »

Third Annual Back the Blue Walk Scheduled for Saturday

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 Marilyn M. Aciego

TAVARES, Florida—Hundreds of people are expected to attend the third annual Lake County Backs the Blue Walk scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at Tavares’ Wooton Park.

In its third 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. She grew up and was close friends with Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Wayne Koester who 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.

“Almost the entire time my son played baseball; Chris Daniels was his coach.” Cook said.

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. She is hoping for a large turnout Saturday, last year’s efforts were hampered by unusually cold weather and it was held Easter weekend.

Saturday’s walk is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at Wooton Park, 100 E. Ruby Street; donuts and coffee are being provided by Ralph Smith of Lake Tire & Auto before the event. Walkers will travel down Ruby Street to LCSO and then onto the Tavares Public Safety Complex before returning to Wooten Park for a hot dog lunch provided by Pamela O’Donnell and Vic Donahey of Vic’s Embers Catering.

Cook suggests participants use street parking in downtown Tavares, or park in the Tavares Parking Garage, 200 North Sinclair Avenue.

Third Annual Back the Blue Walk Scheduled for Saturday Read More »

Naked Stroll through Umatilla Lands Man in Jail

Inside Scoop, Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego

UMATILLA, Florida—A nice leisurely naked stroll through Umatilla resulted in a trip to jail for a Fort Lauderdale man Thursday night.

Stephen Robert Fauteux, 47, was arrested when he was found standing naked in front of Umatilla Police Department around 6: 10 p.m. Thursday. An officer was responding to a naked man walking in the area of State Road 19 and Golden Gem drive and as he left the department to respond, he was flagged down by two off-duty Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies who said the man was standing out front, according to an arrest affidavit.

The officer went to the front and found Fauteux completely nude; he told the officer he left his clothes in a gazebo off State Road 19 and he “liked walking around naked,” the affidavit states. An officer retrieved his belongings from the gazebo, and he was arrested for exposure of sexual organs and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $1,000 bond.

Naked Stroll through Umatilla Lands Man in Jail Read More »

Eustis Police Department and Eustis Fire Department respond to a fatal motorcycle crash April 24, 2022. PHOTO: Inside Lake

Sorrento Woman Killed in Eustis Motorcycle Crash

Eustis, Inside Scoop, Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego

EUSTIS, Florida—A weekend that saw many motorcycles on the roads, especially in Eustis and Leesburg ended tragically Sunday afternoon with the death of a 28-year-old Sorrento woman.

Rebekah Jo Towner was the passenger on 2006 Harley Davidson being ridden by 64-year-old Edgar Wesley Tello, of Umatilla, northbound on Grove Street, when he struck a construction sign near Pendleton Avenue, a Eustis Police spokesperson told Inside Lake—the only media on the scene.

The impact threw Tello and Towner from the motorcycle and she slid with the motorcycle more than 100 feet, coming to rest at a fence in front of a home. Towner was pronounced dead on the scene, EPD said.

A witness who asked not to be named, heard and witnessed the 4:40 p.m. crash, “I heard a squeal, like it hit the curb and then there were two booms,” he said. “He was going faster than 30 (mile pers hour.”)

*A Eustis Police traffic homicide investigator is seen investigating a fatal motorcycle crash near a mangled sign Sunday afternoon. A Sorrento woman was killed.*
*PHOTO: Inside Lake*

The speed limit in that area is 30 miles per hour and there is an electronic speed monitor reminding motorists of their speed and to slow down.

Tello was airlifted to a local hospital and is in serious condition. The crash closed two blocks of North Grove Street for several hours and traffic was diverted to North Eustis Street. It is unclear if either one was wearing a helmet, police said.

The crash comes at the conclusion of two popular events that were held over the weekend, Eustis Music Fest and Leesburg Bikefest. It is unknown where the pair were coming from and the crash remains under investigation.

Sorrento Woman Killed in Eustis Motorcycle Crash Read More »

Free Sealing and Expungement Clinic Scheduled for Saturday

TAVARES, Florida—Lake County residents with minor criminal histories have a unique opportunity to quickly and efficiently expunge or seal their record Saturday if they qualify, at the first-ever Sealing and Expungement clinic offered here.

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida is teaming up with the Lake County Bar Association and Lake Young Lawyers Division to offer this free 4-hour clinic scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lake County Courthouse, 550 West Main Street, Tavares. Lawyers and representatives from numerous government agencies will be on hand to help participants navigate through the process, which often can be difficult to do on their own or expensive to hire a private attorney, said Taylor Tremel, an attorney who will be available on-site Saturday, to help. Lake County Clerk of Court Gary Cooney is waiving certain fees and providing the space for the clinic, Tremel said.

Tremel, who has served as an assistant state attorney and a public defender, is now in private practice with the firm Bowen & Schroth in Eustis and is enthusiastic about being a part of this program. “We saw that there was a need, and I thought it was a worthwhile thing to take on” he told Inside Lake.

“This brings everybody together under one roof to help and answer questions. It’s not very often all these groups get together to do something like this,” Tremel said.

Many crimes are not eligible to be sealed or expunged, including violent offenses, Tremel said. If a person was adjudicated guilty for a crime, they are not eligible either.

Participants’ criminal case must have occurred in Lake County to partake in the event and are asked to pre-register at Clinic Screening (legalserver.org) and those who do, may qualify for assistance with the $75 Florida Department of Law Enforcement application fee. Tremel said participants should not overstate their income or overrepresent how much money they have in the bank.

Tremel is hoping for a large turnout Saturday, “It’s a really awesome event,” he said. “I think it’s something that can be done annually.”

Free Sealing and Expungement Clinic Scheduled for Saturday Read More »

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