[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 05/16/21]
MOUNT DORA, Florida — A man was arrested late last Sunday night for opening fire on the property of a popular flea market after it was closed, according to an arrest affidavit.
A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy spotted a white Ford F350 speeding as it exited the parking lot of Renninger’s Flea Market around 11:15 p.m. Sunday. The truck made a wide right turn and began weaving through traffic and made an abrupt right turn in the Racetrac parking lot. The truck traveled through the parking lot at approximately 30 mph until it came to a stop almost sideways in front of a gas pump, the arresting deputy noted in the affidavit.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop and a man exited the driver’s side of the truck, almost falling and dropping several items as he exited. As LCSO conducted the stop, the deputy heard on his radio that several vehicles had been driving around the Renninger’s Flea Market property shooting and a security guard said one of the vehicles was a white diesel truck.
The back left passenger of the truck, identified as John Martinez-Garcia, of Ocoee, opened his door as LCSO was speaking with the driver and was “immediately hostile and would not follow my orders,” the deputy noted in the affidavit. The deputy could also smell the strong odor of marijuana coming from the truck.
All the occupants were removed from the truck and LCSO found a Springfield XD9 9mm pistol on the floorboard where Martinez-Garcia, 19, was sitting, along with numerous spent shell casings all over the seat and inside the left door handle. The deputy also found a fully loaded AR-15 and Glock 23 40 caliber handgun. A bag of marijuana weighing 42 grams was also found.
Martinez-Garcia was arrested for discharging a firearm in public, improper exhibition of a firearm and possession of marijuana more than 20 grams. He was released from the Lake County Jail on $8,000 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]
