[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 04/21/20]
CLERMONT, Florida — A man known as “Barber Shop” accused of shooting a home, pointing a rifle at two people and fleeing from police Sunday, is in the Lake County Jail being held on $60,000 bond.
Clermont Police responded to a report of a possible shooting and verbal disturbance at a home in the 400 block of Desoto Street shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday. When officers arrived two people told them they were in a vehicle traveling eastbound on Desoto Street when Jesus Anthony Rodriguez, 42, also known as “Barber Shop” ran the stop sign at Disston Avenue and as he passed them he pointed a long black rifle at them and continued westbound on Desoto Street, according to an arrest affidavit.
Officers met with the original complainant at the home and she told them Rodriguez got into a verbal altercation with her son. Rodriguez, who appeared to be drunk and possibly high, according to witnesses, was asked to leave the home and he left in a gray Toyota Tacoma. He quickly returned and brandished a large, black rifle. He pointed the rifle at the home and shot, breaking a kitchen window.
While police were on scene investigating, Rodriguez drove down Desoto Street, near the residence and responding officers attempted to catch up with him. Rodriguez was spotted on U.S. Highway 27 and ran a red light at Citrus Tower Boulevard and eventually travelled onto State Road 50. Officers attempted to stop Rodriguez and he accelerated to 84 miles per hour in a 50 miles per zone. Multiple officers from Clermont Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and Rodriguez finally stopped in the area of Emil Jahna Road and State Road 50.
Rodriguez was taken into custody and charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied dwelling and fleeing a law enforcement officer.
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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]
