Two Mount Dora men were arrested for using a mower to break into Ace Hardware and steal $3,600 worth of items to sell.
An officer responded to Ace Hardware, located at 18961 U.S. Hwy. 441, regarding a burglary, later found to involve 23-year-old Roy Alan Perrott and 41-year-old Joshua Keith Reffitt, around 11:16 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Eustis Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officer observed what seemed like muddy tire marks from lawn mower tires on the southeast side of the building. He met another officer who collected a blue face mask found near the tire marks as evidence, the report said.
The officer made his way toward the business and observed where entry appeared to have been made into the property. The fence on that corner looked pried or cut open and had an opening large enough for someone to fit through. Several pieces of the fence were lying on the ground. He also noticed a surveillance camera which was sprayed with a white substance, possibly paint, the report said.
Both officers met with a manager from Ace Hardware who led them to the surveillance room to investigate video footage. While they did so, the manager gave them a sworn written statement, including intent to prosecute. The only items the manager was able to identify as stolen at the time were two pressure washers worth $1,300 each and one generator with a propane converter worth $1,000, totaling $3,600, the report said.
The manager advised that other miscellaneous stolen items would be found later, and they would notify the officers with any further details. He was not able to name any specific brands or serial numbers at the time of the report. The damage to the fence was estimated to be $200 or less, the report said.
As they reviewed the surveillance footage, the officers observed Perrott on a lawn mower tractor, possibly John Deere, hauling a trailer coming west from U.S. Highway 441 into Ace Hardware at about 7:29 a.m. He made his way to the side of the building behind a pallet of mulch. He then brought a small trailer, now detached from the mower, in between the wall of the building and the pallet, the report said.
After taking a pee break, Perrott went into a black bookbag to take out a blue mask that matched what was later found at the scene and what looked like a can of spray paint. He appeared to spray the surveillance camera, looking back at it after doing so. He proceeded to enter the back of the business, the report said.
Perrott was able to walk around and take several items, appearing to remove a generator with a propane converter. He put these items on top of the trailer. He then went back into the property and into the garden section where he seemed to grab two garden hoses, the report said.
At 7:54 a.m., Reffitt came onto the property through the opening created by Perrott. He had a blue bandana covering his face and a knife on the right side of his hip. He approached Perrott and began helping him load up two pressure washers to the trailer outside, still hidden behind the pallet of mulch, the report said.
Perrott brought out a green box full of miscellaneous items and the garden hose he organized. He and Reffitt next secured all items to the trailer. Perrott left the property on the lawn mower tractor, hauling the stolen items toward U.S. Highway 441. It was unknown where Reffitt went or what direction he traveled, the report said.
The officers then met with a Mount Dora Police Department supervisor who arrived on scene to assist. They informed the officers about a recent burglary that could be tied to their investigation. A subject closely matching the description of Perrott, who was also on a possible John Deere mower, was towing a trailer and broke into a church. The MDPD advised they were going to check a wooded area near their incident location in efforts to find any subjects or stolen goods, the report said.
Meanwhile, a detective processed the scene but did not lift any fingerprints of value. He instead found a handheld hacksaw in the garden section. The report noted the tool was seen in Perrott’s hand in the video and was believed to be what he used to get into the property, the report said.
At about 4:49 p.m., the detective was advised by the Ace Hardware store owner of a homeless camp at U.S. Highway 441 and Wolf Branch Road in Mount Dora. He was told some of the items that were stolen from the store may be there. He wanted to walk through the wooded area and check to see if he could find anything, the report said.
Several officers and the detective walked with the owner through the wooded line and made contact with a subject who one of the officers was familiar with from prior involvements. He was asked if he knew anything about a recent theft from Ace Hardware, and he stated he did not. However, he did mention Reffitt who currently lived in the backyard of 1735 Cherry Lane, the report said.
The subject stated Reffitt owned a black Dodge Ram and used it to steal items. He allegedly had a ton of stolen items on his property, and the subject stated, “Joshua usually is everywhere taking everything.” He added that Reffitt owned a couple lawn mowers, the report said.
The detective made his way to 1735 Cherry Lane and found Reffitt asleep inside a trailer in the backyard of the property. He noticed a bunch of random items and lawn equipment scattered throughout the property while speaking with him, the report said.
The detective told Reffitt the reason he was there, and he stated he spoke to Lake County detectives earlier regarding a subject known as “Saint” who had been committing robberies around Lake County and bringing the items to his property. He advised “Saint” had a bike trailer, and he would transport the stolen items to dump on the property. This “Saint” stole a water pump and golf cart that allegedly belonged to the Flea Market Reninger’s, the report said.
When asked if he had anything to do with the items “Saint” stole recently, Reffitt said no. He stated “Saint” had been riding a black John Deere lawn mower but had no idea where either of them was. Due to him giving no further information, the detective gave him his work cell number and told him to reach out if he found out where “Saint” was located, the report said.
Around 6:11 a.m. Tuesday, the detective received a text from Reffitt telling him “Saint” was sleeping outside and that he would try keeping him there. The detective went back to Mount Dora and asked Reffitt if “Saint” was still there around 8:27 a.m., to which he stated that he was when he left, the report said.
Two detectives and an officer made their way to 1735 Cherry Lane where they met the homeowner who answered the door. She allowed them into the backyard to look for the “Saint” subject. This was when the detectives found Perrott sleeping underneath the carport adjacent to the trailer Reffitt lived in, the report said.
One of the detectives woke up Perrott and identified himself as a member of the EPD. The report noted Perrott was wearing the same clothes as one of the suspects in the burglary, leading to him being detained and secured in handcuffs, the report said.
Perrott was told he was a person of interest in the burglary, to which he initially stated he did not know about any Ace Hardwares. He then stated everything was still “here,” as in on the property, and he would give them everything. He also admitted to committing the recent burglaries at Ace Hardware and bringing them to Cherry Lane about two days ago, the report said.
The detective asked Perrott why he committed the burglaries, to which he said he just needed money and was trying to sell the items. The other detective asked if Reffitt was the other person involved in the burglary, and Perrott nodded his head yes. Another officer arrived on scene and escorted Perrott to the back of his patrol vehicle, the report said.
One of the detectives approached the trailer and told Reffitt to step out so they could talk. He stepped out and was secured in handcuffs, immediately causing him to ask what was going on. The detective explained he was identified as the additional person in the Ace Hardware burglary, the report said.
This prompted Reffitt to admit to being at the store while Perrott committed the burglary, but he swore he was not involved. He tried telling Perrott he was doing the wrong thing while he was only in the area dumpster diving for scrap. He still denied being involved in the burglary even though he was identified on camera with Perrott and concealed his face, the report said.
While being placed in the back of a patrol car, Reffitt started shaking, and it appeared he was suffering from a seizure. The detective immediately notified dispatch to have EMS enroute to assist, the report said.
As Reffitt calmed down on the ground, a deputy noticed how he tensed up when searching his left shorts pocket. A detective searched the pocket to find two clear baggies of a white rock-like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Due to Reffitt having a seizure and complaining of shoulder and leg pain, he was taken to AdventHealth Waterman Hospital, located at 1000 Waterman Way, for evaluation, the report said.
The owner of Ace Hardware arrived on scene and collected all the stolen items. He stated it looked like everything was accounted for and was thankful, the report said.
Perrott was charged with two counts each of burglary to an unoccupied structure, grand theft (more than $750 less than $5,000) and criminal mischief (less than $200). He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $16,000.
After being medically cleared, Reffitt was charged with burglary to an unoccupied structure, grand theft (more than $750 less than $5,000), possession of methamphetamine and criminal mischief (less than $200). The Connecticut native was taken to LCJ with bond set at $10,500.
