[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 01/05/21]
EUSTIS, Florida— A man who apparently did not want another man close to him because of “coronavirus,” was arrested Wednesday for threatening the man with a meat cleaver and a fishing knife.
Just before 8:30 p.m. Eustis Police responded to Colonial Inn, 1000 South Bay Street on a report of an aggravated assault. Lake Legal News has reported on several incidents at the motel since 2019, including two separate search warrants. When an officer arrived, the victim told him a man he knew as “Junior,” later identified as Rolando Trevino Jr., told him to back up and yelled, “You know coronavirus and (expletive,)” and pulled a chrome meat cleaver with a metal handle from his pants and held it chest high with the blade down, according to the arrest affidavit. Trevino, 28, then allegedly held the cleaver over his own head and said, “If this does not kill, this will,” and pulled a black fishing knife from his pants and also held it chest high with the blade down.
The victim said Trevino did not advance toward him, but he was in fear for his life, so he went back to his room and called the police. Officers found Trevino in downtown Eustis riding a bicycle and holding the meat cleaver. After detaining him, he first told EPD nothing happened and then said he did have a run in with the victim, but never pulled a weapon and told police had he used a weapon, he would have made sure the victim was hurt. Police searched Trevino and found two knives, including the black fishing knife described by the victim.
Trevino was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released Saturday on $2,000 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]
