Man allegedly brandishes pole over claims of cocaine laced with fentanyl

A Leesburg man was arrested on battery and drug charges for allegedly hitting a man with a pole over claims of cocaine laced with fentanyl.

A deputy responded to a potential aggravated battery at an undisclosed Leesburg address around 1:45 a.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to his arrival, other deputies observed a male, later identified as 38-year-old Adrian Jamar Miller, and an unknown female fleeing from the residence. Deputies were able to find Miller and detain him at another location. 

While on scene, the deputy spoke with the first victim who advised that he lived at the residence. He was standing in the back room when he was struck from behind with an unknown object, which he believed to be a pole, causing a laceration to his head. He then observed Miller trying to flee the home, the report said. 

The deputy observed a laceration to the top of the victim’s head and blood beginning to run down his face. EMS arrived on scene and bandaged the wound, but the victim refused to be taken to the hospital. He went back and forth on whether he wished to cooperate with law enforcement and prosecute, but he later worked with the investigation, the report said. 

The deputy next talked to the second victim who stated that she lived in the back bedroom of the home. She heard a verbal altercation ensue, so she looked through the door and saw Miller allegedly stealing steaks from the fridge. He was confronted at the front door by the first victim, the report said. 

Miller then tried to flee out of the back bedroom with the unknown female. In the process of trying to get out through the back door, which was locked, Miller pushed the second victim and struck her to move her out of the way, the report said. 

A witness, who resided with the second victim in the back bedroom, corroborated her story. She also advised that Miller kicked in an exterior door to get into the home before kicking in his bedroom when he was trying to flee, the report said. 

Deputies spoke with the complainant, as well. She stated that Miller kicked in the front door, had stolen meat from Walmart that she had just bought, before kicking in the back bedroom door and attempting to flee. The first victim corroborated her story, the report said. 

Deputies also interviewed Miller, who advised that he traded his food stamps for crack cocaine which he received from the first victim. He believed the cocaine to be laced with fentanyl. Due to this, he returned to the home to take the meats and items purchased with his food stamps, the report said. 

A search of Miller’s person taken prior to transporting him to Lake County Jail revealed a baggie containing white powder in his right sock. This tested positive for cocaine. Additionally, a glass smoking device believed to be used in consuming narcotics was found, the report said. 

The report noted that the owner of the house was recently deceased, and deputies believed all persons staying in the home had moved in since his passing. One of the deputies had been told by informants in the area that the home was foreclosed upon, the bank was soon to take possession and there was the use and sale of narcotics from the home. That same deputy had multiple dealings with the homeowner prior to his passing, and to his knowledge, none of the current individuals inside of the home were residing there with his permission prior to his passing. 

Miller was subsequently arrested on charges of aggravated battery, simple battery (second or subsequent offense), possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $31,000. 

This arrest comes after he was released from jail on Friday for attacking his roommate over a missing cash card.