[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 10/14/19]
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MASCOTTE, Florida – A Mascotte man out of jail less than a week is back in after allegedly hitting someone in the face with a piece of bread. The victim told Mascotte Police Richard Priest Williams, 27, a 10-time guest of the Lake County Jail since 2015, struck the victim with a piece of bread and took off on foot, according to an arrest affidavit. A Mascotte Police officer recognized Williams walking northbound on Putnam Avenue and approached him.
The officer ordered Williams to stop and he kept walking. The officer grabbed Williams by the arm and he stiffened and began to turn away; another officer performed a leg sweep and took Williams to the ground. Officers questioned Williams – who told police they needed to refer to him as “Legion” – and Williams denied committing a battery. He said his plan was to go to a nearby field and “dig some grabs (sic) for the ‘entity’ that was going to kill us,” the affidavit states. During a search of his person, police found a capped syringe with brown residue consistent with illegal narcotics.
Police took Williams to the victim who at first was not going to press charges, but then decided Williams needed help after he began calling the victim, “Lucifer,” and other names. Officers attempted to put Williams back in the patrol car but he would not comply. As officers pulled him into the patrol car, they felt a five-inch knife in his right boot; they also found another syringe in his pocket, according to the affidavit. Williams was then placed in a four-point restraint. He managed to wiggle out of the restraint and began kicking the roof of the officer’s patrol car as they entered Tavares.
The officer pulled over and awaited assistance from Tavares Police to restrain him. As units arrived, Williams complied and was taken to the Lake County Jail. He was charged with felony battery (due to his prior record), possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer without violence and possession of a concealed weapon. He is being held on $8,000 bond.
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, 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]
