[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 03/10/20]
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TAVARES, Florida — A man who Eustis Police picked up on a nationwide extradition warrant in January was found with cocaine in his jail cell Monday, according to an arrest affidavit.
Two folded up pages of a book containing cocaine were found in a toothpaste box underneath Makai Budd’s bunk during a cell search Monday night, the affidavit states. Budd, 21, who has been in jail since January, was picked up in Eustis on a Volusia County warrant for armed robbery Jan. 21. In that incident, a Eustis Police officer was patrolling the area near Myung Sung Store and recognized Budd from prior encounters. He asked dispatch to run Budd’s name for active warrants and found he had a nationwide extradition warrant. The officer approached Budd, 21, who began walking backwards and ignoring several commands from the officer.
The officer took his Taser out of its holster, due to Budd running from the police in the past, the officer noted in the affidavit, and Budd took off. He jumped out of his sandals and dropped a set of keys, police later found belonged to a stolen Mercedes that was recovered in the City of Eustis earlier that day.
Budd continued to run and allegedly threw a black Versa .380 handgun and bag of marijuana. He turned eastbound through a field and began to slow down, the affidavit states. The arresting officer ordered him to the ground while pointing his Taser at Budd — he complied and was taken into custody.
Budd was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, resisting an officer without violence and tampering with evidence in that case. He now has two added charges of possession of cocaine and introduction of contraband into a detention facility. His total bond is $27, 000. According to Lake County Jail records he has a detainer, presumably from Volusia County.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
