A homeless man in Leesburg was arrested after stealing clothes from Walmart and using a bicycle to flee from law enforcement.
An officer responded to Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Blvd., regarding a theft around 6:20 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The suspect, whose description matched 51-year-old Eric Richard Brown, left the store after concealing sport joggers and gloves worth $36.98. He was last seen leaving the store on a bicycle heading toward the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and U.S. Highway 441.
Upon arriving at the intersection, the officer observed Brown on the sidewalk. He turned on his emergency overhead lights and tried to approach him, but Brown immediately fled across the street toward the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 441, the report said.
The officer pursued Brown as he rode his bicycle in the far-left lane of the highway. He activated his siren multiple times and used his loudspeaker, giving several verbal commands instructing Brown to stop, the report said.
Brown instead continued northbound toward Palm Street in Fruitland Park. He then entered the opposite lane of traffic and proceeded onto the property of 3290 U.S. Hwy. 441. At that point, a Fruitland Park officer and another Leesburg officer intercepted and blocked Brown’s path, the report said.
The officer in pursuit parked his vehicle and approached Brown on foot. All of the officers gave multiple commands for him to get on the ground, which he did not obey. One of them redirected him to the ground where he was detained in handcuffs, the report said.
Brown was subsequently identified by his name and date of birth, which was confirmed by his picture in a law enforcement database. While receiving CCTV footage at Walmart, it was confirmed that Brown was the individual who had stolen the merchandise. The stolen joggers and gloves were found on his person and returned to store employees, the report said.
A review of the CCTV footage showed Brown concealing the items and leaving through the garden section without paying for them. After confirming his involvement, the officer read his rights. Brown acknowledged this and admitted to the theft, the report said.
It was also determined that Brown had two prior theft convictions from Feb. 22 and March 14, the report said.
Brown was charged with petit theft (two or more prior convictions) and resisting (obstructing without violence). He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $3,500 bond.
He was also arrested in Aug. 2023 when he was caught with drugs in his backpack after being stopped on his bicycle.