Leesburg man arrested after allegedly kidnapping toddler

A Leesburg man was arrested after kidnapping the toddler of a woman he dated intermittently for three years.  

Police responded to a child abduction at an undisclosed Leesburg residence around 8 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. 

Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the first victim who advised that she and a group of friends had just returned home from dinner when 36-year-old Lekendre Renard Hall forcibly entered the residence. He grabbed the 21-month-old child from the second victim’s arms while she was changing a diaper and ran to the back of the residence. Hall got into a silver Jeep that was discreetly hidden behind the house before driving away, the report said.  

The first victim further advised that Hall was not listed as the father on the child’s birth certificate, and he did not have custody, the report said. She and Hall had been dating on and off for about three years, though.  

While the officer remained at the residence with the first victim, other officers responded to apartments in Leesburg to locate the missing child. Using investigative means, the Jeep was found at the apartments. While speaking with residents where the vehicle was located, Hall arrived with the child in his arms. He was then taken into custody, the report said. 

During this process, Hall resisted officers’ attempts to place him in the back of a patrol vehicle. He was finally secured after roughly a 10-minute struggle.  

Hall was subsequently charged with false imprisonment of a child under 13 years of age (domestic), burglary with assault or battery (forced entry – domestic), burglary of an occupied dwelling (forced entry) and resisting (obstructing without violence). He was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $26,000. 

Hall was arrested earlier this year after fleeing a crash that injured two people and in April 2022 after being chased through an apartment complex for a suspended license.