[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 04/29/20]
MASCOTTE, Florida — A man who decided to “swap” his bicycle for one he apparently liked better is facing a charge of violating a state emergency management act, along with drug and theft charges.
Just after 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, a man reported finding an unfamiliar blue Magna mountain bike in his garage and his daughter’s Huffy bike missing; Mascotte Police responded to his home and the man told them he was occupied on the phone and his garage door was open, according to an arrest affidavit. Police took the blue bike and canvassed the neighborhood for the girl’s bike, but were unable to find it.
Less than two hours later, while patrolling the Mascotte Recreational Complex, the officer who responded to the bicycle theft saw Luke Roberson, 19, riding a bicycle matching the description of the missing bike. The officer yelled for Roberson to stop riding the bike and he continued to ride into the park before coming to a complete stop, the affidavit states.
Roberson, of Mascotte, was detained, searched and found with a metal pipe he advised he used to smoke marijuana. He was questioned about the bicycle and he told police he was riding the blue bike when he saw the victim’s bicycle; he decided he wanted the victim’s bike and entered the victim’s garage to “swap” them. Police searched a bag Roberson was carrying and found two glass pipes containing a white, powdery substance. He told police he uses those pipes to smoke “crystal meth.”
An officer returned the stolen bike to the victim and Roberson was transported to the Lake County Jail. He is charged with grand theft from a dwelling, burglary to an occupied dwelling, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of a state emergency management act.
“It is to be noted, this county’s (sic) declared a state of emergency by the governor under chapter 252. The perpetration of the burglary is facilitated by conditions arising from the emergency which are reductions in the presence and response times of the law enforcement officers of this police department,” the arresting officer wrote in the affidavit.
Roberson was also charged with violation of probation and is being held on no 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]
