A Umatilla man was arrested on burglary and trespassing charges after breaking into trucks and stealing equipment from a construction site.
Deputies responded to a complaint of a suspicious person, later identified as 33-year-old Jonathan Phillip Loper, seen on a construction site in the area of Radio Road and Poe Street in Leesburg at 11:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival, the deputies spotted Loper actively trying to open multiple vehicles within the construction zone. They detained him and searched his person, finding burglary tools like bolt and box cutters attached to his waist. He also had a small baggie containing methamphetamine, the report said.
The location was confirmed to be an active construction site operated by Florida Cracker Underground Company and Boykin Construction. Two site managers representing the victims responded to the scene to check for any damage or theft. The representative for FCUC indicated several items, including tools and equipment with an estimated value of $1,390, were missing, the report said…