A Clermont man was arrested after crashing his truck and running into two occupied homes at the Clermont Yacht Club to avoid the police.
An officer informed dispatch of a black 2020 Toyota Tacoma he saw headed westbound on State Road 50 and Blaxam Avenue around 8:55 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department. The registered owner, 34-year-old Frank Gunter Polly, had an outstanding warrant for burglary in an ongoing CPD case.
Dispatch notified the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Groveland Police Department of the vehicle’s direction. Shortly after, an LCSO deputy was behind the vehicle at State Road 50 and East Avenue. It turned northbound, then onto Broome Street and finally back onto East Avenue before speeding onto Lake Minnela Shores and crashing near the cross with Division Street, the report said.
Polly then ran out of the vehicle on foot, headed toward the subdivision of Clermont Yacht Club. He was last seen entering the residential area as the officer who initially spotted the vehicle arrived on scene. The officer proceeded to search the area on foot, the report said.
Neighbors on Harbor Cove Way yelled, “This is the guy, that’s the guy,” at the officer, and he saw a shirtless Polly. The officer grabbed his taser while Polly lightly jogged down the way and onto Nautica Mile Drive. He commanded Polly to get on the ground and aimed his taser, to which Polly was cooperative and placed in handcuffs, the report said.
Another officer arrived on scene to search Polly and put him in the back of a patrol vehicle. He was also evaluated by Clermont Fire and Rescue, as well as Lake EMS, due to his involvement in a crash. He was subsequently taken to Orlando Health South Lake Hospital, located at 1900 Don Wickham Dr., in an ambulance, the report said.
Before heading to the hospital, an officer spoke with the neighbors and learned that one of the homeowners was in her kitchen cooking eggs for her 2-year-old granddaughter when Polly entered her home through an unlocked garage door. He looked around, stepped over her granddaughter’s toys and ran to the front door. He next unlocked it and left, the report said.
Other homeowners stated they were eating breakfast when Polly came in through their unlocked garage door. He ran to the front door, repeatedly shouting “wrong house,” while trying to unlock it. When he failed, he went back out through the garage and fled the area, the report said.
One of the homeowners pursued Polly on foot while she instructed her husband to call law enforcement and stay at the house with their three children. She was present when Polly was taken into custody, the report said.
Polly was ultimately arrested on two counts of trespass in a structure or conveyance. He was also issued citations for leave scene of crash involving property damage and reckless driving with property damage. He was booked at Lake County Jail without bond.