A 57-year-old Lady Lake woman who refused to leave UF Health Leesburg Hospital after being medically released told police to take her to jail because she had nowhere else to go.
On Sunday morning, the head security officer at the hospital, located at 600 E. Dixie Ave., told a Leesburg police officer that Roseann Barbara Lipiec was released from the hospital and loitering on the property. He said he and his staff told Lipiec to vacate the property and she refused. Lipiec had been issued a trespass warning from the hospital the previous day as well, according to the police report.
The officer then spoke with Lipiec, who said she needed to see a doctor. The officer explained to her she had already seen a doctor and was released, so she could no longer be on the property. He then told her police had dealt with her multiple times the previous day at the hospital and LifeStream Behavioral Center, the report said.
During the encounters Saturday, officers had contacted the Department of Children and Families and reported that Lipiec said she had nowhere to go. DCF was willing to assist Lipiec, but she refused help. After being reminded how officers had tried to help her the previous day, Lipiec said, “Since I have nowhere to go, I’ll go to jail,” according to the report.
Lipiec was taken to the Leesburg Police Department and charged with trespassing after warning. She was then transported to the Lake County Jail, where she was released Monday on her own recognizance. She’s due to appear in Lake County Court on Aug. 9.
