An Altoona man was arrested after giving deputies false ID three times during an investigation into a disturbance.

Deputies responded to a verbal disturbance involving 46-year-old William Crawford Penley at a residence on County Road 44 in Leesburg at 5:45 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

William Crawford Penley
William Crawford Penley

While investigating, deputies spoke to Penley who gave them a false name and date of birth. This information had no records attached to it, and neither did the two Social Security numbers he told them afterward. He was subsequently detained and admitted his true identity, the report said.

Penley was arrested on charge of false ID given to law enforcement officer and transported to Lake County Jail. He was released on his own recognizance and is responsible for appearing in court on Feb. 4.

Pennington began writing for Leesburg-News.com in 2023 before graduating from the University of Florida in 2024 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. A lifelong Florida resident, her experiences on the...