A Clermont man was arrested for refusing to leave UF Health-Leesburg Hospital when asked and resisting officers when they detained him for it.
An officer was dispatched to 400 W. Dixie Avenue to help EMS find someone who called 911 seeking medical attention around 1:59 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. As he canvassed the area, he located a Leesburg Fire Department truck on the corner of South Ninth Street and West Dixie Street.
The officer approached the firemen and noticed they were medically evaluating 32-year-old Brandon Eugene Jones. While EMS and LFD were checking on Jones, their personnel asked the officer to follow them to the hospital, located at 600 E. Dixie Avenue, due to Jones attempting to fight medical personnel earlier in the night. He had also been trespassed from the hospital by another officer that same night, the report said.
EMS transported Jones to the hospital as the officer followed. Jones was medically evaluated by nurse personnel and released from the hospital, after which he walked into the lobby and sat down on a seat. The officer told him he was medically released and needed to vacate the property because he was no longer there for a legitimate purpose, the report said.
Jones advised he was not leaving and was waiting for his ride. The officer then looked over to the on-duty security officer to ask if he would like to pursue charges, to which he stated “yes.” The officer explained to Jones that he had been warned he was not allowed, licensed or invited to be on the property and may be arrested if he refused to leave or came back, the report said.
Jones replied, “Then arrest me then.” The officer told him to stand up and place his hands behind his back, to which he complied. The security officer completed a sworn written statement, initialing “yes” for prosecution and received victim’s rights brochure. Once Jones was placed under arrest, he was taken to the LPD for the completion of his arrest paperwork, the report said.
When Jones’ paperwork was finished, an officer asked him to stand up and place his hands behind his back again. Jones continued to lie on his stomach and said he would not do it. After many failed attempts to get Jones to comply, the officer tried handcuffing him, the report said.
Jones immediately tensed his arms and rolled up to where he was sitting upright facing the officer. Another officer assisted with holding Jones’ left arm and requested backup over his radio. More officers arrived on scene and helped detain Jones, the report said.
As several officers asked Jones to get into a patrol vehicle, he again refused to comply by remaining standing. One of the officers assisted him into the patrol vehicle and detained him using a hobble, or a restraining device, but he was able to escape. He was successfully restrained with more hobbles, the report said.
Jones was ultimately charged with trespass after warning and resisting (obstructing without violence). He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $2,000.