[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 05/17/21]
EUSTIS, Florida — A homeless man who told police he had been using fraudulent receipts “for years to get money” was busted for that offense and possessing methamphetamine Saturday, according to an arrest affidavit.
Eustis Police responded to Bealls, 2802 David Walker Drive on a report of a man using fraudulent receipts. An employee told EPD Darin Clay Grenier, 44, had committed fraud at their other location and the employee had been watching for him. He said Grenier entered the store and took a cooler and jewelry totaling nearly $80 and returned — it using a fraudulent receipt.
The employee approached Grenier, and he gave him $64 back, according to the affidavit. Grenier walked outside and sat on a bench until EPD arrived. When Grenier spoke with officers, he admitted to finding the receipts outside and fraudulently using them to receive cash. “[He] explained he was homeless and has been doing this for years so he can get money,” the arresting officer noted in the affidavit. (Lake County Jail records reveal numerous previous charges against Grenier— including several related to theft and fraudulent refunds.)
EPD searched the backpack Grenier had with him and found an orange pipe with residue and baggie with a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Grenier then returned the remaining cash he received to the Bealls’ employee and he was arrested for use of a fraudulently obtained receipt, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $4,000 bond.
_______________________________
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]
