Homeless man arrested after setting a campfire on private property in Leesburg

Man A homeless man in Leesburg was arrested for trespassing when a fire he started on private property caught the attention of police.

A patrol officer at 1801 Bradford Avenue discovered a fire burning under a tree around 12:50 p.m. on May 26, according to a Leesburg Police Department police report. He began investigating the fire because it was on private property and appeared to be uncontrolled. He then encountered 33-year-old Anthony Wayne Sandusky, who was standing on the property.

When Sandusky was asked to put out the fire, he said he would not. The officer asked him if he knew he was trespassing on private property, to which he replied he believed he had been on private property before. A check using his name confirmed he had been on private property on April 11, the report said.

When the officer received this information from dispatch, he attempted to arrest Sandusky. He openly stated that he would not comply with the officer’s orders and refused to put his hands behind his back when asked to do so. The officer nevertheless grabbed him by the right wrist and attempted to handcuff him, the report states.

Sandusky responded by tensing his arm and not allowing the officer to put him behind his back. The officer then handcuffed him and ordered him to put his hands behind his back three times. Sandusky said he would not do this, the report said.

Another officer on the scene drew his Taser and gave further commands before firing it, striking Sandusky’s left abdomen and left pectoral muscle. The impact of the probes caused his body to convulse and he fell onto his back. Officers were then able to place the second handcuff on his left wrist, the report said.

Emergency medical services later arrived at the scene to examine Sandusky, who stated he wanted to be taken to UF Health at 600 E. Dixie Avenue for a medical evaluation, the report said.

Sandusky was charged with trespassing (after warning) and resisting arrest (obstructing without violence). He was taken to the Lake County Jail after a medical examination and on $2,000 bail.

He has been arrested several times in the past, including in September 2023 for threatening the police after allegedly stealing a soft drink from a supermarket.