[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 08/05/20]
UMATILLA, Florida — A man who locked two children in dog cages and pushed another child, causing him to strike his head on a bed frame, was booked into the Lake County Jail last week after Umatilla Police responded to a call of a battery in progress.
UPD arrived at a residence on East Collins Street on July 27, and a woman told police she received a phone call informing her James Timothy Pollard, 41, was being physically abusive towards children. She arrived home and found that Pollard had struck one child in the hip, pushing him to the ground and causing him to strike his head on a bed frame, according to an arrest affidavit, Pollard also locked two smaller children in dog cages and she heard the children yelling to be let out, the affidavit states.
The woman tried to step in between Pollard while he was arguing with one of the children and he pushed her into a hall closet and bruised her inner elbow.
Pollard was taken into custody and charged with aggravated child abuse and felony battery. He was taken to the Lake County Jail where a tampering with a witness charge was later added, along with a violation of probation from Orange County and violation of pretrial release. He is being held on no 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]
