Leesburg man arrested after repeatedly trespassing at residence

A Leesburg man was arrested Wednesday on a warrant for repeatedly trespassing on a residential property.

On March 2, an officer with the Leesburg Police Department responded to the 1600 block of Sterns Drive regarding a trespasser, later identified as 22-year-old Derek Tyrone Watkins, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County.  

The officer arrived and spoke with the male victim. He advised that as he parked his vehicle in his driveway, Watkins jumped from behind the tree, located about 10 feet from the easement of the sidewalk on the victim’s property. The victim asked Watkins to leave his property, to which Watkin refused and responded with racial slurs. The victim asked Watkins once again to leave his property resulting in Watkins refusing and responding with verbal threats toward the victim and his family, the affidavit said. 

While speaking with the victim, the officer observed Watkins standing on the sidewalk in front of the victim’s residence next to his driveway, close to the tree where he was allegedly hiding behind. A query was ran on Watkins resulting in four separate incidents at that location involving the victim, the affidavit said. 

On Oct. 17, 2022, Watkins was on the victim’s property and was escorted home before being turned over to his father. On Nov. 8, 2022, Watkins was issued a trespass warning by officers. On Nov. 11, 2022, he was found on the property and arrested on a trespass after warning charge. On March 12 of this year, he was again found on the property and arrested, issued a misdemeanor citation and released on his own reconnaissance, the affidavit said. 

Watkins was ultimately arrested for trespass after warning Wednesday morning by the Lake County Sheriff’ Office. He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $1,000 bond.