Leesburg man suspected of stealing M&Ms surrenders at gun point after chase

A Leesburg man who allegedly stole bags of M&Ms surrendered at gunpoint after being chased down by police.

Police responded to a Mobile gas station, located at 841 S. U.S. Hwy. 27/441, regarding a theft around 9:50 a.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. 

The first officer at the scene noticed 30-year-old Logan Carroll McKnight walking toward The Cove apartments, located at 735 U.S. Hwy. 27/441. The officer tried to make contact with McKnight, but he took flight and dropped the stolen items, the report said. 

McKnight ignored several commands to stop, leading the officer to deploy his taser. He missed but chased McKnight toward the south end of the apartment complex. McKnight continued to run into the wooded area at the south end, the report said. 

Another officer then arrived on scene around the same time the other officer saw movement in the bushes. They checked the area and found McKnight hiding in the bushes. He saw the officers walking in his direction and took flight again, the report said. 

After a short chase, one of the officers drew his handgun and ordered McKnight to get on the ground. He complied and laid face down on the ground, at which time the other officer placed handcuffs on him, the report said. 

The officer asked McKnight if he had stolen candy from the store, and he admitted to taking several bags of M&Ms. He advised that he had eaten one of the bags prior to being stopped, the report said. 

Once McKnight was detained, the officers responded to the Mobile gas station and spoke with the complainant. He advised that McKnight walked into the store and became verbally abusive. She told him to leave the store, or she would call law enforcement, the report said. 

McKnight refused to leave, so the complainant called the police. While she was on the phone with Lake County dispatch, McKnight was observed selecting six bags of M&Ms, walking past all points of sale and leaving without paying. The total value of items was $19.14, the report said. 

McKnight was subsequently charged with resisting law enforcement without violence and petit theft (retail). He was taken to Lake County Jail with bond set at $1,500.