man A homeless man in Leesburg was arrested for trespassing when a fire he lit on private property attracted the attention of law enforcement.
An officer patrolling 1801 Bradford Avenue spotted a fire under a tree around 12:50 p.m. May 26, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. He began investigating the fire due to it being on private property and not appearing to be contained. He then met 33-year-old Anthony Wayne Sandusky standing on the property.
When asked to put the fire out, Sandusky stated he would not. The officer asked if he knew he was trespassing on private property, to which he stated he believed he had already been trespassed. A check using his name confirmed that he had been previously trespassed on April 11, the report said.
Upon receiving this information from dispatch, the officer tried to detain Sandusky. He actively stated that he would not comply with the officer’s commands and refused to put his hands behind his back when asked. The officer still grabbed his right wrist and attempted to cuff him, the report said.
Sandusky responded by tensing his arm, not allowing the officer to put it behind his back. The officer proceeded to apply his cuffs to his right wrist and made three verbal commands to put his hands behind his back. Sandusky stated he would not, the report said.
Another officer on scene drew his taser and gave additional commands before discharging it, striking Sandusky’s left abdomen and left pectoral muscle. Due to the probes striking him, his body tensed up, and he fell onto his back. The officers were then able to apply the second handcuff to his left wrist, the report said.
EMS later responded to the scene to check Sandusky. He stated he wanted to be transported to UF Health, located at 600 E. Dixie Avenue, and medically cleared, the report said.
Sandusky was charged with trespass (after warning) and resisting (obstructing without violence). He was transported to Lake County Jail after being medically cleared with bond set at $2,000.
He has been arrested in the past on many occasions, including in Sept. 2023 for threatening police after he allegedly stole a fountain drink from a convenience store.