A Leesburg man was arrested after resisting an officer who questioned his alcohol use in front of Family Discount Mart.
An officer on patrol saw 41-year-old Tony James Thomas near Family Discount Mart, located at 2201 Griffin Rd., at 9 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. He was filling up a styrofoam cup with what looked like a small bottle of alcohol. He also conducted what appeared to be a hand-to-hand narcotic transaction with another patron in front of the liquor store.
Due to this, the officer pulled into the parking lot with Thomas on the east front corner of the building walkway. The officer began to ask about the alcohol, to which he partially turned away to hide the cup. He also tried to distance himself, the report said.
The officer feared Thomas was about to run, so he grabbed him by the arm to detain him. Thomas quickly dumped out the cup before trying to pull away to flee. After a few minutes of struggling against the side of the building, they both went to the ground, the report said.
Another officer subsequently arrived on scene, and Thomas was placed into custody. They recovered the cup, as well, which had residual golden liquid in the bottom and smelled strongly of alcohol, the report said.
Thomas was arrested on charge of resist (obstruct without violence) and transported to Lake County Jail. He was released on his own recognizance, making him responsible for appearing in court on March 4.
He was also arrested in Feb. 2025 after allegedly attacking the mother of his children out of jealousy.