A Leesburg resident was arrested for driving without a license when they were found to have multiple traffic violations during a traffic stop near Amscot.
An officer observed the driver of a gray Chevy utility vehicle, later identified as 45-year-old Conlonda Shanise Riley, traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 441 near Perkins Street around 11:39 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The vehicle had an inoperable passenger-side taillight, and the attached license plate was registered to a vehicle with an expired registration as of May 4.
The officer initiated a traffic stop using his overhead lights, and the vehicle turned into the parking lot of Amscot, located at 1100 W. North Blvd. However, it did not immediately stop. It instead circled the building, drove over a curb, re-entered Perkins Street and finally came to a complete stop in the middle of the road, the report said.
Due to the vehicle’s erratic behavior, the officer quickly got out of his patrol vehicle and approached. He could hear yelling coming from inside as he neared the vehicle. Upon opening the rear passenger-side door, he observed three individuals in the back seat and one in the front passenger seat, the report said.
The driver’s seat was empty, and the individual seated in the middle of the back seat was partially standing, suggesting they had moved from the driver’s seat after the vehicle stopped. Through a Florida ID card, this person was identified as Riley, the report said.
Riley had multiple suspensions, cancellations and revocations between July 2021 and May 2024. These included multiple failures to pay traffic fines, non-judgement suspensions and revocations for DUI. They also had three prior driving while license suspended or revoked convictions from Dec. 2003, Aug. 2008 and June 2023, the report said.
All vehicle occupants were read their rights, and each confirmed that Riley was driving at the time of the traffic stop, the report said.
Riley was ultimately arrested on charge of driving while license suspended or revoked with knowledge (third conviction) and issued two written warnings for the expired registration and the inoperable taillight. They were transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $10,000.