A Clermont woman with a wrench was arrested for burglary after being detained in the Hawthorne development in Leesburg.
Dispatchers got a call about a suspicious vehicle parked behind a residence in the Hawthorne development in Leesburg around 2:25 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The caller advised that the vehicle had been parked in the area for about 20 minutes, and a person, later identified as 35-year-old Meleisa Lei Dority, could be heard opening the doors and making more noise at the vehicle.
Deputies responded to the area and began searching for this vehicle. The caller specified that it was behind a fence on Banana Point Drive where she saw someone using a flashlight and entering the community through the fenced spot. Using this information, they located an unoccupied white Chevrolet Blazer on the shoulder of Banana Point Drive, the report said.
An inspection of the vehicle revealed the hood was warm to the touch, indicating recent use. The deputies believed a burglary was in progress and established a perimeter to find the suspect. They assessed the fence near the vehicle, and when they touched the gate, the latch and attached lock fell to the ground. The latch had been loosened at the bolt, the report said.
Beyond the gate was white square-paneled fence section with a secondary gate that was secured with a lock. The perimeter fence surrounding the gated private neighborhood consisted of chain-link fencing topped with barbed wire. As deputies continued searching this area, they deployed a drone for an aerial view of the neighborhood, the report said.
They then spotted Dority standing behind a tree within the community. The drone flew closer only for her to conceal herself behind a tree, moving around it in coordination with the drone’s movements. She proceeded to run away at a full sprint, the report said.
Nearby deputies found her and tried to detain her, but she continued running. She ultimately slowed down to a walk and ignored their repeated commands to stop until they detained her. A search of her person yielded assorted coins, a ratcheting wrench with socket attachments, gloves, lottery tickets and other miscellaneous items, the report said.
Dority later claimed she was inside the neighborhood “looking for coins.” She admitted to climbing over the exterior fence and confirmed the white Chevrolet belonged to her. When asked about hiding from the drone, she stated she was just leaning against it. She added that she ran because she did not know who the deputies were and was scared, the report said.
Dority was arrested on charges of loitering or prowling, resist officer (obstruct without violence) and possession of burglary tools. She was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $4,000 bond.