News Flash

The Lady Lake Police Department located a missing 88-year-old man with dementia using a departmental drone.

On Jan. 20, just before 7 a.m., Lady Lake police responded to the 1600 block of Magnolia Avenue on the historic side of The Villages after the man’s wife reported him missing. She said she awoke to find he had left the home sometime during the night.

The wife reported the man had removed his pajamas, put on jeans and a shirt, and walked out of the house in a confused state.

Cpl. Andru Eckerdt and Officer Robert Chausse launched the department’s drone and located the man within three minutes. He was found covered in blood from a fall and walking along a golf cart path. The Villages EMS transported him to The Villages Hospital for treatment of a head injury and hypothermia. The low temperature that morning was 36 degrees.

In 2025, the Lady Lake Police Department purchased one drone and secured three additional drones through grants.

“If not for the quick recovery of the victim, things could have turned out much worse,” Police Chief Steve Hunt said. “The investment in our drone operation has paid off with several arrests and the safe recovery of missing endangered persons.”

Lady Lake police arrested several teens on Jan. 20 in connection with two commercial burglaries and an attempted vehicle break-in at The Quarters apartment complex.

Officers were at the apartment complex on an unrelated call when Officer Ryan O’Neal saw two juveniles who matched descriptions from recent burglaries at Lady Lake Discount Beverage, 207 S. U.S. Highway 27/441, and a nearby vape shop.

In the first burglary, suspects smashed the front door of Lady Lake Discount Beverage and stole alcohol and vape products. In the second, suspects forced entry into the vape shop and stole lighters and vape merchandise. Officer O’Neal identified the two juveniles and detained them. Detectives later interviewed the suspects and confirmed their involvement in both burglaries.

Later that day, a police officer from a neighboring jurisdiction reported seeing several juveniles attempting to open car doors in The Quarters parking lot. Officers watched as the group tried door handles on a Kia sedan and attempted to pry a rear window with what appeared to be a screwdriver.

Police located three of the juveniles nearby and took them into custody on loitering and prowling charges.

Because the suspects are juveniles, their names are not being released.

The investigations remain ongoing and no additional information is available at this time.

Lady Lake police arrested two people after finding trafficking-level amounts of drugs inside a home in the Lady Lake portion of The Villages.

Officers went to a home in the 1700 block of West Schwartz Boulevard on Jan. 3 while searching for suspects wanted on warrants the Marion County Sheriff’s Office issued. Those suspects were not at the residence, but five other people were inside.

As officers approached, one of the occupants, Teddie Morris, attempted to flee through a back window before a lieutenant stopped her. Morris had active warrants and was taken into custody.

Officers were able to see drug paraphernalia inside the home and obtained a search warrant. During the search, police found more than 80 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine, along with more than $3,000 believed to be proceeds from drug sales.

Police arrested occupant, Phillip O’Day, on drug trafficking charges.

“This residence had generated numerous complaints, and we hope this arrest sends a strong message that Lady Lake will not tolerate crime in our community,” Police Chief Steve Hunt said.

The investigation remains active and additional information is not available.

Public NoticeFound / Abandoned Property

The Lady Lake Police Department is in possession of the following found or abandoned property. Unless ownership is claimed and verified, these items will be disposed of in accordance with Florida State Statute 705 on their scheduled purge dates.

If you believe any of these items belong to you, please contact the Evidence Section at (352) 751-1576 with proof of ownership.

• On Dec. 15, 2025, an iPhone, identification cards, a passport, credit cards and keys were recovered along U.S. Highway 27/441. These items will be purged on March 13, 2026, unless claimed.
• A bicycle was recovered on Dec. 19, 2025, on LaGrande Boulevard. If unclaimed, it will be disposed of on March 29, 2026.
• U.S. currency was recovered on Jan. 16, 2026, on Bichara Boulevard. It is scheduled to be purged on April 16, 2026, unless claimed.
• A bracelet was recovered on Jan. 22, 2026, on Bichara Boulevard. If unclaimed, it will be disposed of on April 22, 2026.
• A key fob with keys was recovered on Jan. 22, 2026, on Avenida Central. It is scheduled for disposal on April 22, 2026.
• A cell phone was recovered on Feb. 2, 2026, on Palermo Place. If unclaimed, it will be purged on May 3, 2026.

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