[IMAGE CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 01/31/20]
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EUSTIS, Florida — A homeless man was charged for resisting arrest without violence and was trespassed from city hall after throwing Cheetos at City Manager Ronald Neibert, lying about his name and refusing to leave the premises.
Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Eustis Police responded to Eustis City Hall in reference to a person refusing to leave. Neibert told police a man, later identified as Maurice Akeem-Vonche McCook, was blocking a door in the courtyard area of city hall and he was asked to leave. Vonche-McCook, 31, got upset and yelled at Neibert before throwing Cheetos at him, according to an arrest affidavit
As the arresting officer arrived, Vonche-McCook was attempting to leave and the officer told McCook he was not free to leave until the officer identified him. He told the officer his name was “Scott” and he continued to walk away. McCook was warned he would be arrested if he did not identify himself and he still walked away. The arresting officer reached out to grab McCook and he pulled away and began to flee, the affidavit states.
The officer deployed his Taser and probes struck McCook in the buttocks and lower leg and he fell to the ground. McCook refused to put his hands behind his back and attempted to stand up. The arresting officer and another officer were finally able to handcuff him and take him into custody.
Lake County EMS responded due to the suspect’s fall and he was uncooperative with them, the officer noted in the affidavit.
McCook was charged with resisting an officer without violence. He is being held at the Lake County Jail on $1,000 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]
