A sex offender from Eustis was arrested after leaving the Leesburg Denny’s without paying for his meal.
A Leesburg police officer responded shortly after 2 a.m. to the restaurant, located at 2480 Citrus Blvd., where an employee said 37-year-old Brandon Logan Ellison walked out without paying his bill of $17.26, according to the department’s arrest report.
The employee said Ellison ordered a bacon sampler and a Coke, ate his meal quickly, and went to the restroom with the plastic Coca-Cola cup containing his drink. After several minutes, Ellison came out of the restroom and left the restaurant without paying and with the cup still in his hands, the report said.
The employee caught Ellison’s attention while he was at the door and told him he needed to pay his bill, to which Ellison responded that he needed to grab his wallet. After a moment, the employee called for her manager and they both exited the store. The witness watched Ellison walk across the street and away from the restaurant, according to the report.
While the arresting officer was speaking with the employee, other officers found Ellison in the area of Griffin Road and Thomas Avenue. He was taken into custody and the cup was later returned to the restaurant. Security video confirmed the employee’s account of events, which led to Ellison’s arrest, the report said.
A criminal history check revealed Ellison has six prior convictions for theft from 2004 through 2023. He also shows up on the FDLE sex offender registry for having sex with a minor in 2006.
Ellison was charged with petit theft (two or more prior convictions) and taken to the Lake County Jail. Bond was set at $2,000.
