[IMAGE CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 01/23/20]
(Have news tips for LLN?… 352Tips@gmail.com.)
GROVELAND, Florida — A Groveland man is facing a criminal mischief charge and resisting an officer charge after he admitted he put dog feces on a water meter lock.
Groveland Police responded to a home in the 9700 block of Kenmore Drive Wednesday in reference to a vandalism complaint. Two city workers told police dog feces had been smeared on the water meter lock at a home the city had ongoing problems with. According to the arrest affidavit, the residents of the home were not paying their water bill and someone kept turning the water back on illegally.
The arresting officer went to the door of the home and Michael Offie, 42, came to the door and immediately said, “Yes, I put the dog [expletive] there,” the affidavit states. The officer asked why he would do that and Offie responded, ”Wouldn’t you if they shut off your water?”
The arresting officer asked for Offie’s driver license and he said, “I’m not driving… absolutely not,” and started to go back into the home. The officer told Offie to come back out and Offie replied, “No… that’s not how it works,” and shut the door, the affidavit states.
The officer requested backup and when another officer arrived, they knocked on the door and asked Offie to come outside. He came to the door with a phone that was recording and refused to come out several times. Officers gave him a final warning and Offie responded, “Or what?”
The officers entered the front entryway and each officer grabbed one of Offie’s arms, he called the officers a name and tensed up; officers performed a leg sweep, took Offie to the ground and handcuffed him.
Offie was charged with criminal mischief and resisting without violence. He was released from the Lake County Jail on $1,500 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]
