A Eustis man was arrested after backing into a woman’s vehicle at a bar and running from the deputy who witnessed the crash.
A deputy responded to a physical altercation at Big Dog Saloon, located at 4060 N. Hwy. 19A in Mount Dora, around 1:51 a.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. While concluding that incident, he observed the driver of a white GMC Yukon, later identified as 21-year-old Jonathan Louis, reverse into another vehicle, causing minor damage.
Upon approaching the accident scene, the deputy observed a woman get out of the second vehicle and become hysterical. Louis then got out of his vehicle and approached the woman. While the two were speaking, they began to walk in the opposite direction of law enforcement, the report said.
The deputy told both of them to come back for the report, and the woman half turned to begin walking toward him. Louis, who was wearing a white tank top and black sweatpants, instead walked away from the deputy. The deputy stated “white shirt come back here” after which Louis began to run, the report said.
Louis fled north behind several businesses before jumping a barbed wire fence into the garden area of The Yard Stop Garden Center, locate at 4200 FL-19A. The deputy briefly lost sight of him but immediately established a perimeter. While canvassing the area, the deputy later spotted a man, within the closed portion of the property, who began to run.
Upon the man taking flight, the deputy announced he was with the sheriff’s department and for him to stop running. The man did so and placed his hands up. He was identified as Louis and immediately detained, during which he advised that he made a stupid decision and understood that law enforcement was just doing their job, the report said.
Louis was subsequently removed from the property and escorted back to the Big Dog Saloon where he was informed of his rights. He continually repeated that he did not understand his rights even after clarification attempts were made. He was still placed under arrest, the report said.
While another deputy finished the hit-and-run crash report, he advised the arresting deputy that Louis was showing a revoked license status as of Nov. 16, 2022. Furthermore, deputies found several open containers within the vehicle during inventory, the report said.
Louis was ultimately charged with driving while license revoked, loitering and prowling, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage over $50 and resisting arrest without violence. He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $7,000.
