A Leesburg man accused of stealing a car had drug and weapons charges added when a handgun and Ecstasy were found in the vehicle.
Timothy Eric Evans, 39, of 1147 Bentley Road, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a weapon by a convicted Florida felon and possession of a controlled substance (MDMA) without a prescription.
The victim went to the Tavares Police station on May 23 to report that his black 2010 Chrysler 300 was taken on May 21 by a person who goes by the name “Tater” or “Tate” – later identified as Evans — while they were at the Villa Lagoon Inn, 1051 Lake Shore Blvd. He said he met Evans and a female named Renee at the Jungle Hut, a fish games business at 324 W. Burleigh Blvd. in Tavares, according to the police report.
The victim said while talking with Renee, he learned of her hardships and being homeless. He told Evans and Renee to follow him in their vehicle to Villa Lagoon, where he would rent them a hotel room for the evening, the report said.
The victim said once the three of them arrived at the hotel, Evans jumped into the driver’s seat of his vehicle. He said when he asked Evans what he was doing, Evans replied he was just going to the store to get some balloons. The victim said he hesitated for a moment and then Evans drove away, according to the report.
Evans said he hadn’t been able to get his car back for the last two days. He said he delayed notifying law enforcement because he has learned that “Tate” (Evans) is known to be dangerous and he feared he would be harmed. The victim valued his vehicle at $22,000, the report said.
At around 7:30 p.m. on May 23, a Lake County sheriff’s deputy radioed that he was on the phone with the victim, who said Evans and the vehicle were back at the Jungle Hut. Before the Tavares officer arrived at the Jungle Hut, the deputy said the victim and Evans were in an active verbal argument and that Evans might be armed with a firearm, according to the report.
Several Tavares Police units responded to the Jungle hut and saw Evans speaking with the deputy in front of the business. An officer located the 2010 Chrysler on the east side of the building and confirmed it was the stolen vehicle, the report said.
The deputy told the officer the victim was inside the business when he saw Evans walk in with his car keys on a lanyard wrapped around his neck. Edward told the deputy he and Evans started to argue about the vehicle and he took the keys away from Evans, according to the report.
Another person told the officer that Evans picked him up in the stolen vehicle in Mount Dora and they drove to the Jungle Hut together, the report said.
The officer and sheriff searched the vehicle and found two white crystal rocks in the clear wrapping of a cigarette box on the driver’s door handle. On top of the center console was a clear plastic bag containing a white powdered substance. Inside the console was a black Khar Arms .40 handgun. The gun had a loaded magazine but did not have a bullet in the chamber. The victim said none of the items belonged to him, according to the report.
Evans was handcuffed, arrested, and placed in the back of the officer’s patrol car. He provided two separate stories about how he came into possession of the vehicle, the report said.
First, he said he was at the Jungle Hut with his girlfriend on May 22 when they met the victim. He said the victim mentioned how low on gas he was and that Evans could borrow the vehicle if he put gas into it. Evans then said he said he and the victim went to Villa Lagoon, where the victim said he would let him borrow the vehicle in exchange for $25 to be used for drugs. Evans said the victim said he could use the vehicle up until 11 p.m. on May 23, according to the report.
Evans admitted that the drugs in the car, which he identified as “Molly,” belonged to him. He said the firearm was not his, the report said.
Evans was taken to the Lake County Jail, where he was released May 24 on $14,000 bond. He is due to appear in Lake County Court on June 21.
