Two men were arrested in Clermont after they allegedly stole hundreds of dollars’ worth of liquor and fled from police.
On Tuesday, September 17, Clermont Police Department officers responded to the 2500 block of E Highway 50 in reference to a theft incident. A victim told officers that several individuals had stolen approximately $900 in liquor before fleeing in a vehicle, according to CPD.
The police department stated that the victim provided a detailed description of the suspects’ vehicle, which helped officers quickly locate it. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop when officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, and a pursuit was initiated.
The vehicle was soon located by additional officers, and the two occupants fled from the vehicle on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, the two suspects – identified by police as 21-year-old Amaruian Latravis Powell and 19-year-old Jamel Yah’Shawn Francis – were spotted hiding in the area, according to CPD.
Powell and Francis were placed under arrest and transported to Lake County Jail. Later that same day, Powell was released after posting bond, and he is facing the following charges: fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence.
Francis was released from jail the following day after posting bond. He is being charged with grand theft and resisting an officer without violence.
The stolen liquor was recovered and returned to the victim, according to police.