A proactive police patrol in Apopka led to the arrest of a convicted felon with a gun.
During a recent routine overnight patrol, an Apopke Police Department officer noticed a man dressed in black walking along the side of a closed auto repair shop and heading toward the rear of the building.
Law enforcement said that being 1:30am and the officer’s familiarity with the business, the behavior immediately raised concern. The shop was closed, and the property is known to store customer vehicles, tools, and other valuable equipment.
As the officer approached the man to find out what the individual was doing on the property, the man suddenly ran, according to local law enforcement. A short foot chase followed.
While running, the suspect dropped a firearm but the officer was right behind him and safely took him into custody without further incident. The discarded firearm was recovered.
Further investigation revealed the man is a convicted felon, meaning he is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Local law enforcement said that his actions, combined with the circumstances, posed a serious safety risk and could have resulted in significant property loss.
While most of the community is asleep, the Apopka Police Department is actively monitoring businesses, neighborhoods, and roadways, working to prevent crime and keep our residents and their property safe. Situations like this are a reminder that proactive patrol matters.
