A Mount Dora man and an Alaskan runaway were arrested after suspiciously lingering near a marijuana facility.
A deputy responded to Curaleaf, a medical marijuana growing facility at 4149 Britt Road in Mount Dora, regarding a suspicious vehicle around 9 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The complainant stated that the occupants of a black BMW, later identified as 20-year-old Cameron Stennett and a juvenile, with dark tints, black wheels and no license plate drove past the business three times. During the first encounter at about 4:30 p.m., the vehicle pulled into a gated area by Curaleaf security and sped out of the parking lot. The next encounter at about 8:30 p.m. saw the vehicle pull into the gated area again before slowly driving off, the report said.
The deputy responded to the area, spoke with security and searched for the vehicle with no results. However, at about 9:54 p.m., the complainant advised that the vehicle returned for a fourth time. It drove passed and parked on the south end of the property along the gate before driving off, the report said.
The deputy returned to the area to meet with security who provided pictures of the vehicle. The complainant also advised they were concerned since two of their retail stores in Miami were robbed and burglarized. They also had a location in Ocala and another undisclosed area robbed and burglarized, the report said.
While trying to obtain copies of the photographs, the vehicle passed by for a fifth time. The deputy left the security area and pulled behind the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop to investigate possible loitering and prowling as well as for not having a license plate. The vehicle ultimately stopped near the intersection of Britt Road and Future Farm Drive, the report said.
The deputy ordered both occupants out of the vehicle, and with assistance from other deputies, they were detained. A check of the VIN revealed there was no license plate or registration assigned to the vehicle but had a previous owner out of Winter Springs, the report said.
While the deputy investigated that vehicle, another identified the driver as Stennett by name and date of birth. The report noted that he was issued a temporary Alaska driver’s license on or about Feb. 27.
The deputy then separated Stennett from the juvenile passenger and asked what his intentions were since he was seen driving up and down Britt Road multiple times. Stennett replied he was out “joy riding” since he had just bought the vehicle on the first of the month. At no point did he admit to driving or parking on Curaleaf property or dispel suspicions that they were up to criminal activity, the report said.
The juvenile was interviewed next and asked the same question, although he did not reply. Because he looked young, the deputy asked how old he was. He turned and made eye contact, giving the deputy a blank stare. He also did nothing to dispel suspicions of criminal activity, the report said.
While the deputy issued Stennett a citation for no motor vehicle registration and completed a vehicle impound form, the juvenile verbally identified himself several times with a fake name. After multiple searches, no records for the name were found, the report said,
Stennett was asked if he knew the juvenile’s real name, to which he replied, “He doesn’t want me giving out his information, so I’m not going to say.” He was told that if the passenger was a juvenile or a missing/runaway person, he could face criminal charges, the report said.
Further investigation revealed the juvenile’s actual name and date of birth, proving that he was a missing runaway out of Anchorage, Alaska. The deputy called the juvenile’s father who advised that he did not know the juvenile was in Florida until he received a text message from him that day showing he was mailing back items he had stolen from his father, the report said.
The deputy questioned Stennett again, asking when he moved to Florida. He stated that he moved down on Feb. 29, which was just a couple days after the juvenile was reported missing. He later told law enforcement that he asked the juvenile how old he was to make sure he was 18, the report said.
Stennett was ultimately arrested on charges of loitering and prowling and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $11,000.
The juvenile was arrested on charges of loitering and prowling and giving false name to law enforcement.
