[IMAGE CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 02/04/20]
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EUSTIS, Florida — A homeless man who told police he thought members of a church staff were “playing him” was charged with criminal mischief Friday after he admitted to kicking and striking the church’s doors, according to an arrest affidavit.
Eustis Police responded to a verbal disturbance at One Fire, 110 South Bay Street, Eustis shortly before 5:30 p.m. Friday and found Dane Vincent Ward, 32, yelling and screaming obscenities. Witnesses told police Ward came to the front door for church service and found the door locked because the next service did not start until 7 p.m. Ward went around to the back and entered through an opening in the gate; he was given permission to go through the opening on a prior occasion according to the affidavit. After going through the opening, Ward began banging on the back door and the bay door.
Ward then kicked the bay door, knocking it off track and struck the back door with a belt, causing dents. The pastor of the church estimated the total damage at $1,000.
Ward admitted causing the damage, apologized and offered to fix it. Ward said he was upset because be he was “thirsty” and wanted a drink of water. He told police he believed, “they (staff members) were playing him,” because an unknown person inside told him to go around back.
Ward was charged with criminal mischief to a church. He is being held on $1,000 bond at the Lake County Jail.
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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]
