[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 10/28/20]
FRUITLAND PARK, Florida — Smashing a pumpkin and acting out resulted in three criminal charges and landed a Lady Lake man behind bars Monday evening, according to an arrest affidavit.
Fruitland Park Police responded to a home on Grizzard Street in reference to Mark Lee Roberts, 54, sitting on the porch of the home and refusing to leave. When FPPD arrived, Roberts was sitting in a chair on the porch screaming, surrounded by smashed pumpkin pieces, the arresting officer noted in the affidavit.
The complainant told police Roberts came to the home looking for her mother and became upset when he found out she was sleeping. He threw a pumpkin at the house, smashing it and refused to leave. The complainant said she wanted to press charges for the smashed pumpkin and while the officer was filling out a notice for Roberts to appear in court, Roberts walked into the street and fell over, the affidavit states.
Lake EMS responded and Roberts began screaming and making references to his genitals and the females who were on scene and nearby residents came outside to see what was going on; EMS tried to transport Roberts and he became “combative” and threw his belongings at people, the affidavit states. Roberts was taken off the stretcher and police attempted to put handcuffs on him, according to the affidavit. He resisted for several minutes and required four officers to restrain him and place him in a patrol vehicle.
Roberts was arrested for criminal mischief, disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $2,000 bond
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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]
