A homeless man in Leesburg was arrested with meth after flagging down a deputy for help with a potential medical emergency.
A deputy on patrol noticed 32-year-old Billy Ray Hogans waving at him near the empty parking lot of the former CVS at 1235 N 14th St., Leesburg, at 5:20 a.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
After pulling into the parking lot, the deputy was told that Hogans felt he was about to have a medical emergency, the report said. He had been shot in the head by the mother of his son a few years back, and ever since then, he had had seizures. They tended to be severe, and he wanted to get EMS en route to evaluate him.
Before EMS arrived, the deputy asked Hogans for permission to search his bag as a precaution for everyone’s safety. Hogans instantly became extremely nervous but emptied the contents of his bag on the hood of the deputy’s patrol vehicle. He placed his things one at a time before pulling out a small container, the report said.
He realized what he did and went to put it back in his bag. When asked what it was, he replied right away that it was methamphetamine. He was subsequently detained, continuing to be very compliant and respectful, the report said.
Before being secured in the back of the patrol vehicle, Hogans stated he wanted to be honest. He admitted he had a pipe wrapped in one of the socks that he placed on the hood. A search of the sock’s contents revealed a glass smoking pipe, the report said.
EMS evaluated Hogans before he was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was booked at the Lake County Jail with bond set at $3,500.
The Arkansas native has been arrested numerous times before, including recently in April for stealing from Walmart. Prior incidents include in Oct. 2025 for sitting outside Sonic with methamphetamine, in June 2025 for trespassing at McDonald’s, in March 2025 for trespassing at McDonald’s, and in Feb. 2025 for trespassing at Wawa.