A Leesburg man who was arrested for trespassing at a Circle K was also charged with a hate crime for threatening a black deputy.
A deputy was dispatched to Circle K, located at 2211 Citrus Boulevard in Leesburg, regarding a trespasser around 12:36 a.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to his arrival, the LCSO Communications Center received a call from the Circle K manager who advised that 52-year-old Joseph Scott Armagost was at the store, from which he was previously trespassed.
Once at the scene, a deputy detained Armagost. He was belligerent, threatened one of the deputies and yelled as they searched him and placed him into a patrol vehicle. Another deputy asked Armagost if he was threatening the deputy, and he admitted to doing so, the report said.
Armagost called the deputy an “ape” multiple times during this incident. He also admitted he wanted to beat up the deputy. The report noted that the deputy was a black male.
Armagost was subsequently charged with trespass (fail to leave property upon order by owner) and threats to law enforcement (hate crime). He was transported to Lake County Jail and released on his own recognizance. He is responsible for appearing in court on Aug. 6.