A Fruitland Park man was arrested on a charge of stalking after trying to meet up with a woman at Walmart.
A woman called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office regarding 40-year-old Luis Angel Marrero wanting to meet her at Walmart, 2501 U.S. Hwy. 27, Leesburg, and have dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 10, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County.
However, Marrero had two active warrants for his arrest. The first was for violation of pretrial release, aggravated battery on a pregnant person and petit theft. The second was for violation of pretrial release with a stipulation of being fitted for a GPS monitor if he posted bond, the affidavit said.
Deputies set up a perimeter around Walmart to possibly apprehend Marrero. The woman advised that he could be driving a white Kia four door but later stated it could also be a gray Volkswagen sedan. He was ultimately not found that day and fled the area due to the presence of law enforcement, the affidavit said.
The woman still showed the deputies messages sent from Marrero over Facebook Messenger. He stated he picked up his daughter and wanted to meet at Walmart before going to Chuck E. Cheese. He also told her not to call the police, saying it would “blow up and be bigger than what it is,” the affidavit said.
Marrero had tried to call, as well, and law enforcement databases proved the number was registered to him. His reaching out was a violation of his pretrial release from an incident originating in 2024. This was the third documented attempt of his contacting the woman since the beginning of September, the affidavit said.
The New York native was ultimately arrested in Leesburg at around 2:10 a.m. Sunday. He was charged with violation of pretrial release and aggravated stalking. Marrero was transported to Lake County Jail to be held without bond.