Fruitland Park
CRIME & SAFETY
Police find dead man in golf cart in The Villages
The Lady Lake Police Department is conducting a death investigation after a man was found dead in a golf cart. Lady Lake police officers at about 10 p.m. Sunday responded to the area of 1 LaGrande Blvd. on the Historic Side of The Villages and found a 59-year-old man deceased in a golf cart.
Bank robber hands note to teller demanding one cent
A bank robbery suspect was arrested after handing a teller a note demanding one cent. Michael Patrick Fleming, 41, of Summerfield, entered the Chase Bank on U.S. Hwy. 441 in Lady Lake at about 4 p.m. Saturday and filled out a withdrawal slip for one cent, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. He handed the note to a teller.
Driver arrested after striking three construction barriers
A driver was arrested after striking three construction barriers on U.S. Hwy. 27/441. Anthony Mark Bass, 49, of Tavares, was driving a 2019 Chevy SUV was pulled over shortly before midnight Saturday after hitting the barriers in the construction zone, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department.
Leesburg man nabbed in Wildwood after late night traffic stop
A Leesburg man was arrested during a traffic stop in Wildwood when an officer discovered his license was suspended. An officer spotted a dark Kia sedan following closely to a vehicle and turning all functional lights on and off on the vehicle while approaching County Road 213 on Kilgore Street around 11:20 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. The officer conducted a lawful traffic stop as a result.
Daughter jailed after allegedly popping blood vessel in mother’s eye
A mother has been arrested after allegedly popping a blood vessel in her mother’s eye during a brawl. Sierra Lexus Kirkwood, 30, was arrested Saturday on charges of battery and resisting arrest at her home at 116 Woodlane Ave., according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department.
Woman in U.S. Illegally Accused of Raping Central Florida 12-Year-Old Boy
A 20-year-old woman living in the U.S. illegally has been accused of raping a Central Florida 12-year-old boy. Amanda Romero Maradiaga, of DeBary, was arrested and has been charged with lewd or lascivious battery of a 12-year-old boy. She allegedly raped the child at the boy’s father’s home in DeBary.
Florida Man Shoots Down Walmart Delivery Drone
Florida Man Shoots Down Walmart Delivery Drone, Faces Multiple Charges. A Florida man was arrested and charged after shooting at a Walmart delivery drone, piercing its payload. Clermont, Florida - The Lake County Sheriff's Office received an unusual complaint on Wednesday, which was detailed in a Facebook post: a witness...
Repeat road rager nabbed at Publix sentenced to six months in jail
A repeat road rager nabbed last year at a Publix grocery store in The Villages has been sentenced to six months in jail. Grant Mitchell Patterson III, 32, of Belleview, pleaded no contest this past week in Sumter County Court to a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In addition to six months in jail, he has been placed on probation for 30 months and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
Shoplifting suspect accused of stealing baby clothes and shoes, leaving in borrowed SUV
LADY LAKE, Fla. (TND) — A woman with numerous run-ins with the law is behind bars once again. She was arrested more than two months after a reported shoplifting spree, and she has already been convicted of theft three times. Police said Kathy Sheree Sanders, holding “a black personal...
DUI suspect claims he was heading home from Winn-Dixie
A drunk driving suspect claimed he was heading home from a Winn-Dixie grocery store when he swerved over a median and struck a reflector. Harvey Lee Yawn, 70, of Wildwood, was driving a white Dodge pickup at 11:46 a.m. Sunday when he ran into the median on U.S. 301 near the Wawa gas station, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Another vehicle had to swerve to avoid a head-on collision.
Homeless woman arrested after being banned from Publix in The Villages
A homeless woman has been arrested after being banned from a Publix grocery store in The Villages. Krystal Lynn Barnett, 62, showed up shortly before Friday at the Publix at La Plaza Grande, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. Barnett had been banned from the...
Florida man arrested after allegedly trying to withdraw 1 cent from bank
LADY LAKE, Fla. - A Florida man is facing a felony robbery charge after he allegedly tried to withdraw 1 cent from a bank in Sumter County. The incident happened just before 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Chase Bank on US-441 in Lady Lake, according to an arrest affidavit from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.
Leesburg woman allegedly bites ear of mentally disabled brother
A Leesburg woman was arrested for allegedly biting the ear of her mentally disabled brother and the finger of a tenant who defended him. An officer responded to a disturbance and possible battery wherein 56-year-old Maria Luisa Quinones was causing a disturbance with her roommate and tenant, the complainant, at an undisclosed Lake County residence around 9:40 p.m. Monday, June 24, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. Prior to the officer’s arrival, the Leesburg Communications Center advised Quinones had bitten the complainant’s finger.
Irate man allegedly throws metal dustpan at neighbor doing yard work
A Leesburg man was arrested after allegedly throwing a metal dustpan at his neighbor and slapping her phone out of her hands for filming it. Officers responded to a battery at an undisclosed Leesburg address around 12:48 p.m. Monday, June 24, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The female victim advised that her neighbor, 56-year-old Paul Albert Jette, threw a pan at her, smacked her phone out of her hand and pushed her.
Water Oaker won’t be prosecuted for straying near hospital helipad
A man suspected of driving under the influence and straying near the helipad at The Villages hospital, won’t face prosecution. The prosecutor’s office announced in June that 62-year-old Mark Allen Pryor of the Water Oak community in Lady Lake won’t face prosecution on a charge of driving under the influence in connection with the incident in April at The Villages hospital, now known as UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital.
Central Florida 19-Year-Old Arrested for Online Extortion of 16-Year-Old
A Central Florida 19-year-old was arrested in an online extortion case involving a 16-year-old female victim. Tampa Police Detectives assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Squad arrested 19-year-old Christopher Patrinostro on multiple felony counts, including extortion. A 16-year-old female in Tampa reported being contacted online by an unknown...
Beer-drinking trespasser arrested at gazebo in Wildwood
A beer-drinking trespasser was arrested at the gazebo in downtown Wildwood. Officers found 61-year-old David Cecil Bruce with a 16-ounce Natural Light beer in his hand at about 1:30 p.m. Monday in the gazebo near Wildwood City Hall, according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department. Bruce had been banned from the gazebo in 2019 after he was found highly and intoxicated and urinating in the bushes.
Suspected Walmart shoplifter caught with stolen Starbucks drinks
A suspected Walmart shoplifter was caught after allegedly stealing two Starbucks drinks. Hayley Nicole Hamer, 29 of Weirsdale, went to the Walmart in Summerfield on Sunday afternoon and left with an open Starbucks drink in her hand, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. As she walked out of the store, a loss prevention officer confronted her about the drink, which she did not pay for, the report said.
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