[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 06/15/20]
MOUNT DORA, Florida — Seven Tampa residents including six juveniles were arrested by Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies after being spotted using crowbars and bricks to break into a local gas station and fleeing from law enforcement.
Andre Mario Young, 19 — the only adult involved in the alleged crimes — and six juveniles are accused of breaking a window at Chevron, 3865 N. Highway 19A, Mount Dora with crowbars and bricks and stealing around $5,000 worth of merchandise, including cigarettes, lottery tickets and numerous others items, according to an arrest affidavit. Lake Legal News rarely releases the names of juvenile suspects, it depends on the severity of the crime.
The suspects fled the scene in two separate vehicles and LCSO deputies spotted them speeding down County Road 19A, following a call from a nearby resident.
The vehicles turned down Old Mount Dora Road and ran the stop sign at Grove Street in Eustis and deputies turned on their lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop and both vehicles fled. One vehicle failed to negotiate a curve near Villa Way and crashed and the three occupants fled on foot. They were located by a K9 and taken into custody, according to the affidavit.
The second vehicle continued to flee down Old Mount Dora Road and crossed U.S. Highway 441 and made a left onto Sunset Circle. The vehicle tried to get back on U.S. Highway 441 but was stopped at that intersection and the remaining four suspects were taken into custody.
The victim met with deputies and said his alarm company notified him of the break-in, and video surveillance captured the suspects and the vehicles they were traveling in.
Young was charged with grand theft, criminal mischief more than $1,000, fleeing and eluding, grand theft auto and resisting arrest without violence. He is being held on $10,000 bond after being granted ROR (released on own recognizance) for the grand theft auto and criminal mischief charges. Three of juvenile suspects were processed and released, two suspects were released to home detention and one suspect was turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
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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]
