Deputies tracked down a Leesburg man Thursday who had evaded arrest in an earlier manhunt.
The manhunt began early Wednesday morning when a Lake County deputy spotted a pickup truck speeding on County Road 468. When the truck pulled over, the deputy recognized the passenger, 48-year-old Robert Wayne Williams, from previous law enforcement interactions.
The deputy knew that Williams was wanted on several outstanding felony warrants in Lake County for fleeing to elude, burglary and stealing Amazon packages, and grand theft auto. The deputy ordered Williams out of the truck and as he attempted to take Williams into custody, Williams was able to shove the deputy backward into the woods bordering the roadway. Williams ran away with the deputy in pursuit. As the deputy was chasing Williams, who jumped over a ditch and ran into the woods, the deputy lost his footing and slipped into the ditch. He saw Williams jump a fence and disappear into a wooded area. Local police agencies responded to the area including officers from Fruitland Park, Lady Lake and Leesburg as well as a Lake County K-9 team. Williams was able to evade capture that morning.
Two Lake County deputies went to a residence in the 1800 block of Harcourt Drive in Leesburg early Thursday evening in search of Williams. The woman who owned the property allowed the deputies to search the house. They found Williams attempting to hide in the woman’s closet.
Williams was taken into custody and was transported to the Lake County jail. When the deputies searched Williams they found a drug pipe and methamphetamine in his pockets. He is being held on no bond due to the numerous offenses which occurred when he was out on bond.
He was arrested twice in December, for stealing Amazon packages from porch and after he fled s traffic stop. He also was arrested in connection with a stolen car.
