A Leesburg man was arrested for reportedly breaking into his mother’s house with a screwdriver after police found him hiding in a shower at the home.
Police responded to a possible break in at a residence in the 600 block of Lee Street around 10:40 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The caller advised that they observed a broken exterior vent and heard movement inside the residence.
Upon the officers’ arrival at the house, contact was made with the victim. A search of the residence revealed 48-year-old Geoffrey Israel Sweeney hiding in a shower within the bathroom. He was then detained and searched for weapons, leading officers to find a screwdriver in Sweeney’s right pants pocket and a black flashlight in his left pants pocket, the report said.
Sweeney was escorted out of the residence and placed in the back of a patrol car, the report said. During this, Sweeney made spontaneous utterances of entering the home in search of a bicycle tire. He then told the police that he was willing to speak to them.
Sweeney said that the house belonged to his mother, and he had entered to look for a bicycle tire for his electric bike, the report said. He further stated he came through the front door with a key. When asked where the key was, Sweeney replied that he did not have it because it was inside the residence.
While one officer spoke with Sweeney, another spoke with the victim and owner of the house. The victim advised he was notified by his wife that she heard a noise at his unoccupied mother’s house. He went over to the house and observed an exterior vent was broken. At that time, he notified law enforcement of the situation.
During the course of the investigation, the victim provided paperwork showing Sweeney had been evicted from the residence on April 25, 2023. This was confirmed by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Sweeney was subsequently arrested on charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling (forced entry) and possession of burglary tools. He was taken to the Lake County Jail after completing the booking process. Bond was set at $12,000.
