A homeless man in Eustis was arrested after stealing a sandwich from a Circle K for the second time this year.
Officers responded to Circle K, located at 2754 E Orange Ave., regarding a theft which had just happened around 1:50 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, according to an arrest report from the Eustis Police Department. An employee advised that 35-year-old Robert Kevin Hughes had taken a deli sandwich and left the store without paying for it.
While enroute, the officers got another call saying Hughes was causing issues at 7-Eleven, located at 2700 E Orange Ave., directly across from Circle K. An officer arrived at the 7-Eleven to find he was already gone. Customers stated he headed west on Orange Avenue, and the officer shared this information with others, the report said.
Some officers searched the area while the one went back to Circle K for surveillance footage. In it, he saw a seemingly upset Hughes walking away from the store with a $6.49 Dandee Cuban classic sandwich in his hand. The officer recognized him from multiple encounters and an arrest on May 7 for stealing a sandwich from the same store, the report said.
The employee later added that he told Hughes that he was trespassed from the store. He responded by cursing the police and walking off, the report said.
A few moments later, the officers found Hughes at the intersection with Maine Street. They detained him and found the stolen sandwich, the report said.
A subsequent criminal history check revealed he had more than two previous theft convictions, making this incident a felony, the report said.
Hughes was arrested on charges of petit theft (third or subsequent offense) and trespass after warning. The New York native was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $3,500.