An Okahumpka man was arrested after taking keys belonging to a 77-year-old woman, pushing her to the ground and stealing her vehicle.
Deputies responded to a battery and theft complaint at an undisclosed Okahumpka residence around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The female victim advised that 27-year-old Allan Aspinwall, who she was related to, wanted her to unlock her vehicle so he could get something from the trunk. When she walked outside to verify that it was unlocked, Aspinwall forcefully grabbed the key from her left hand, cutting her in the process. He then grabbed her left arm and pushed her to the ground in the driveway before getting into her vehicle and fleeing the scene, the report said.
At no time did the victim give Aspinwall permission to take her vehicle, described as a 2018 Toyota Corolla valued at about $19,000. She sustained lacerations on the underside of the ring finger on her left hand, the top of her left hand and the top of her right forearm, the report said.
On Wednesday around 6:44 a.m., the Leesburg Police Department found the stolen vehicle near 2110 Johns Avenue. A deputy responded to recover the vehicle, which was processed for fingerprints but came up empty. It was turned over to be towed and released to the victim, although the key was not found, the report said.
Later that day around 2:15 p.m., a deputy learned that Aspinwall was taken into custody by LPD and transported to their police department. The deputy then recorded an interview with Aspinwall in which he denied having any involvement with the vehicle theft. He did state that he believed the victim to be 67 years old, and he had lived with her for about 27 years, the report said.
Aspinwall further advised that he walked to the Leesburg area from Okahumpka and did not travel in the victim’s vehicle. He stated multiple times that he felt remorseful for what happened but would not give any information regarding the incident itself. He continued to deny involvement yet wrote a four-page “apology letter” to the victim, the report said.
The deputy was later notified that Aspinwall had a car key in his possession when he was taken into custody. Aspinwall stated it was for his vehicle, not the victim’s vehicle. At the time of the report, it was unknown if the key was for his vehicle.
Additionally, a criminal history check revealed Aspinwall had a prior conviction for battery in 2016 and for robbery with a firearm in 2016, the report said. He was also arrested in March 2023 for striking a woman and resisting arrest.
Aspinwall was charged with carjacking (unarmed), battery on a person 65 years of age or older (domestic) and theft from a person 65 years of age or older. He was transported to the Lake County Jail to be held without bond.
