A sex offender in Yalaha was arrested after shattering his probation officer’s windshield during a visit to his home.
A deputy responded to 20 Orange Blossom Trail, Yalaha, regarding criminal mischief between 66-year-old William Edward Spencer and his probation officer around 12:30 p.m. June 29, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The officer advised that he visited Spencer to discuss a non-compliance issue regarding contact with minors and a dog. While speaking with Spencer outside the residence, he insisted on going inside to retrieve some leashes to show the officer. He was told not to do so but went inside anyway, the report said.
This caused the officer to fear for his own safety. He told Spencer to report to the office the following day, yet Spencer refused. As the officer walked to his government vehicle, Spencer came outside with leashes and yelled at him, the report said.
The officer then got in his vehicle and put it in reverse. Spencer stood near the vehicle and yelled that he had his foot under the tire and that the officer was not leaving. The officer told him to get away from the vehicle multiple times before backing up, the report said.
Spencer began screaming that the officer drove a tire over his foot. The officer could not tell if he actually did, so he pulled forward. Spencer then slammed the officer’s windshield, causing damage. The officer backed away from the scene and called law enforcement to report the incident, the report said.
The deputy observed the damage to the officer’s vehicle, a blue 2019 Hyundai Tucson. The front windshield was smashed on the driver’s side, appearing to have been struck by an object consistent with the size of a fist. The officer estimated the damage would cost $1,100 to repair, the report said.
The deputy next talked to Spencer, who confirmed he was on probation. He stated the officer came to his residence to talk about a situation where a child petted his dog. He stepped inside his home to retrieve two leashes to show the officer how he maintained control of his dog, the report said.
The officer did not have the patience to wait and walked to his vehicle. Spencer followed him outside with the two leashes in his hands to explain his dog-control methods. He stood beside the officer’s vehicle, and when it backed up, the vehicle ran over Spencer’s right foot, the report said.
Spencer told the officer that the tire was on his foot and asked him to move off. The vehicle was going slowly and stopped when Spencer mentioned his foot. Spencer slammed his hand down on the vehicle to get the officer’s attention, which broke the windshield. He denied the officer commanding him to back away from the vehicle, the report said.
When asked why he did not move his foot if the vehicle was moving slowly, Spencer stated he did not realize his foot was in that position. A check of his foot determined it was red in color. He declined medical attention for the injury, the report said.
Spencer was arrested for criminal mischief and booked at the Lake County Jail. He was released after posting $2,500 bond.
On Jan. 19, 2017, he was convicted of receiving /distributing child pornography and possession of child pornography in Florida.