Lake County deputies acting as part of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were instrumental in the capture of a New York man in Leesburg.
The task force had been searching for 28-year-old Tevaughn Johnson, a convicted armed robber who had been put on parole when he was released from a New York prison. Johnson did not comply with the terms of his parole and fled New York.
A tip led the task force officers to the Tuskegee Street and Griffin Road neighborhood on Tuesday where Johnson was observed driving a silver Chevy SUV. A detective in an unmarked car turned on his emergency lights as other officers wearing tactical gear converged on Johnson who jumped out of his SUV and and started to run, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Johnson managed to evade capture as he ran through the parking lot where he had stopped the car. As the fugitive ran onto Tuskegee Street, a detective was able to use his department-issued electrical control device to send an incapacitating charge into Johnson’s back causing him to fall. Once Johnson was on the ground, the detective was able to handcuff him.
The deputies recovered a High Point .40 caliber pistol which was loaded with 11 rounds. One round was in the chamber. Johnson was booked at the Lake County Jail where he was being held without bond.
