A Fruitland Park man was apprehended for stealing a weed eater from the Wildwood soup kitchen.
Officers arrived at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen, located at 203 Barwick St., at 1 p.m. on April 4 for a stolen weed eater, according to an arrest record from the Wildwood Police Department. The tool’s owner had stopped by the soup kitchen to eat and left his orange-and-white $300 Echo weed eater on the corner of the door. When he finished, the weed eater was gone, and he noticed 48-year-old Jerry Bailey “briskly walking away” towards Main Street.
On Tuesday, the officers learned that Bailey had returned to the soup kitchen for the first time since the theft. He then acknowledged grabbing the weed eater and transporting it home. He was arrested and searched, according to the report.
The search turned up two bulbous glass pipes, one tiny and one large, with an unknown residue in the front right pocket of his shorts. The pipes were later swabbed, and both tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the report.
Bailey’s criminal history revealed that he has been on probation for methamphetamine possession in Lake County since March 9. He was not scheduled to be released until March 8, 2029, according to the article.
Bailey was charged with petit theft (second offense), possession or use of drug equipment, and violating his probation. He was booked into the Sumter County Detention Center without bond. Lake County has also placed a hold on him.
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