A Leesburg man was arrested on burglary and drug charges after playing hide-and-seek with police in a tow truck impound lot early Friday.
A Leesburg police officer responded shortly after midnight to a report of a burglary in progress at Aces Towing and Auto Repair, 1390 W. North Blvd. A tow truck driver at the business reported seeing a man jump the fence into the back impound lot, which is one of several lots the police department uses to house vehicles from crashes, crimes, and other investigations. The lot is completely fenced and is equipped with warning signs, barbed wire, and security cameras, according to the police report.
The officer approached the lot from the southeast side and immediately saw the man walking between vehicles. The officer observed the man for several minutes as he entered several vehicles and searched the front console area for items of value. The man also looked underneath several vehicles, which is common for suspects looking to steal catalytic converters, the report said.
Several other police units arrived and set up a perimeter around the lot, and officers entered using a key from the tow truck driver. As officers searched for the suspect, they were unable to see him but could hear him running between cars and brushing against the foliage in the lot. An officer gave loud and precise commands for the man to surrender himself, but the suspect ignored them and tried to hide in the back seat of a vehicle, according to the report.
As the officer got closer to the vehicle, he could see the man’s head moving around. The suspect was detained without incident. Next to him in the back seat were a backpack and three machetes, the report said.
The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Chad Eugene Knight, of 1417 High St. Unit 1. Knight was searched and officers found a glass pipe inside his front-left pocket. The pipe had burnt residue inside it along with another white substance. A similar pipe, burnt at one end with a substance inside, was found in the backpack. Pipes like these are commonly used to smoke narcotics, according to the report.
Knight was taken to the Leesburg Police Department and charged with burglary (armed or becomes armed, not forced), possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest by obstructing without violence, and burglary of an automobile (armed or becomes armed).
After being read his Miranda warning, Knight told police he entered the property through the back fence and started rummaging through vehicles for change to buy cigarettes. He said the backpack was his and that he found the machetes in one of the vehicles. Knight was very forthcoming with information and admitted to another burglary at the business the previous night, the report said.
Knight was taken to the Lake County Jail, where he’s being held on $12,000 bond. He is due to appear in Lake County Court on Oct. 17.
