A 35-year-old Leesburg man with a long rap sheet is back in the Lake County Jail after being caught stealing from Rural King.
Justin Mark Ross, of 3761 Picciola Road, was charged May 10 with second-degree petit theft (third or subsequent offense). Jail records show him with 17 prior arrests dating back to 2011, including two so far this year and four in 2020.
Several Leesburg Police units responded to the area of the store, located at 1715 N. Citrus Blvd., after the manager phoned in a report that a man dressed in a dark grey shirt, blue or black shorts, had stolen items and fled on a bicycle when confronted by store personnel, according to the police report.
A sergeant observed a man who fitted the description near the intersection of Glenn Ridge Drive and Miller Street. The sergeant detained the man, who was identified as Ross, the report said.
Meanwhile, an officer responded to the store, gathered a report from the manager and observed video surveillance. The officer was able to identify Ross from prior contacts with law enforcement. Items stolen included two ballcap lights valued at $9.98 each and a torch lighter valued at $7.48, according to the report.
Ross gave the sergeant permission to search him and the stolen items were found in his backpack. Ross was taken to the police department for booking. After being read his Miranda warning, Ross freely admitted he committed the theft. He said he is a transient and was seeking to make his life a little more comfortable with the lights and torch lighter, the report said.
Ross is being held on $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Lake County Court on June 7.
