A Leesburg man was arrested on a motorized scooter after ignoring a deputy monitoring traffic in a school zone.
A deputy on a motorcycle was watching traffic driving through the school in front of Treadway Elementary School, located at 10619 Treadway School Road, around 3:15 p.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. As he sat parked on the side of the roadway, the deputy could hear a small engine approaching from Secret Hill Drive.
The deputy turned toward the roadway and saw 45-year-old Johnny Lee Fisher riding a small, motorized scooter onto the sidewalk from Secret Hill Drive, passing right next to him. He hollered loudly to get Fisher’s attention to tell him he could not ride the scooter on the roadway or sidewalk. Fisher smiled in response and continued riding eastbound on the sidewalk away from the deputy, the report said.
A short time later, when the deputy was finishing his stationary traffic enforcement, Fisher approached eastbound on the sidewalk again. The deputy loudly hollered “stop” at him and began walking toward him. Fisher smiled at him again with a brown cigar in his mouth, muttering something to the effect of “c’mon man,” the report said.
Fisher did not stop the scooter and continued on the sidewalk toward Radio Road. The deputy placed his helmet back on while watching Fisher’s location as he crossed over Treadway School Road in front of several cars. The report noted that the deputy was dressed in his agency issued motorcycle uniform marked with the “Sheriff” insignia or verbiage in several places each time he hollered at Fisher to stop.
After mounting his motorcycle, the deputy turned on his emergency lights and siren in an effort to conduct a traffic stop on Fisher. He observed Fisher northbound on Radio Road next to the roadway and was able to stop him near the intersection with Highland Avenue, the report said.
Once stopped, the deputy got off his motorcycle and placed Fisher in handcuffs due to him failing to stop when asked on Treadway School Road. The report noted that Fisher tensed his arms several times as the deputy handcuffed him. He only stopped tensing his arms when the deputy told him that if he continued to do so, he would be tased.
Fisher then began to argue regarding how he believed his scooter was an “E-Bike.” The deputy told him this was not the case because it was motorized. He also identified Fisher and confirmed he had a valid driver’s license during this time, the report said.
The deputy indicated to Fisher that he would be going to jail. As he did so, Fisher began reaching toward his left pocket in an effort to place his hand inside and get something. This led the deputy to reach into Fisher’s pocket and take out a clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance. This tested positive for the presence of THC, the report said.
Fisher was very argumentative with the deputy while waiting for a transport unit. At one point, he stood up and tried to walk away from the deputy while hollering. The deputy grabbed his left arm and held him until another deputy arrived to take Fisher, the report said.
Fisher was ultimately charged with flee/elude (fail to obey police officer), no vehicle registration, possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams) and resisting arrest without violence. He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $5,500 bond.
He was also arrested in February for allegedly striking his girlfriend with a beer bottle during a fight over a computer.
