Lake County, FL Arrest Records, Warrants, and Jail Information
Located in central Florida, Lake County is home to over 462,000 residents. This makes Lake County Florida's 17th most populous county, as it accounts for approximately 1.9% of the state's population. Lake County's economy is driven by healthcare, manufacturing, and agribusiness. The major cities and towns in the county include Tavares (county seat), Clermont, Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora, and Groveland.
The average violent crime rate stands at 716.0 per 100,000 residents, which is 574.1% above the national average. Property crime averages 1170.1 per 100,000 residents, totaling 615.2% above the national average.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) functions as the chief law enforcement authority in the county. The Sheriff's Office oversees operations of the county jail and acts as the central liaison for residents regarding law enforcement matters.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) serves as the central authority for arrest records, jail bookings, inmate release information, and most warrant data within the county. While municipal police departments in Clermont, Leesburg, and Eustis, along with state and federal agencies, may initiate arrests and file incident reports, all such records are centralized under the Sheriff's Office once individuals are processed into the Lake County Jail.
In Lake County, law enforcement responsibilities are shared among multiple agencies, including the sheriff's office, municipal police departments, and federal authorities.
For county-level arrest records and jail rosters, the Lake County Sheriff's Office serves as the most complete resource. The LCSO manages the following core functions:
Local police departments operate within Lake County, such as those in Clermont, Eustis, and Leesburg. Although city police may conduct arrests, individuals are typically booked into the Lake County jail, and the Sheriff's Office handles their jail records.
City police manage arrests inside their boundaries and record the related arrest or incident reports.
State police or the Florida Highway Patrol may stop vehicles on highways and investigate statewide offenses. Arrests made in Lake County usually lead to booking at the county jail, and the records are entered into county logs.
Federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Homeland Security investigate and arrest people for federal crimes. They focus on crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking, immigration violations, and cybercrime. When federal agencies make arrests in Lake County, the records rarely appear in county logs unless the suspect is temporarily booked into the county jail.
Campus police departments are specialized law enforcement agencies that focus on maintaining safety and order within university or college property. Their responsibilities go beyond routine security; they are sworn officers with powers similar to municipal police. Campus police have authority over incidents that occur on university grounds and investigate these crimes. When arrests are made, individuals are typically booked through the county jail.
Lake County is home to some campus security departments, including Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) Campus Safety & Security and Lake Technical College Florida Law Enforcement Academy. Lake Technical College operates a state-certified police academy for recruit training rather than a sworn campus police department. The joint task force law enforcement in Lake County includes:
Lake County, Florida, employs park rangers within its Parks & Trails Division. They oversee county parks, natural preserves and focus on public safety. State park rangers also operate in Lake County at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont.
In Lake County, official arrest records generally provide the following information:
Arrest records vary in scope based on agency, jurisdiction, and case type. Disclosure may be restricted pursuant to privacy legislation, juvenile protections, or to preserve ongoing investigations.
Annually, Lake County reports about 1,168 violent crimes and 6,582 property crimes. The violent crime rate averages 716.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, exceeding the national average by 574.1%. Property crime occurs at 1170.1 per 100,000 residents, which is 615.2% higher than the national average.
The table below summarizes arrest statistics compiled for Lake County:
Arrest Total | Yearly Average |
|---|---|
Arrest Rate per 100,000 | 1,902 |
Adult Arrests | 6,660 |
Juvenile Arrests | 320 |
Crime Type | |
Murder | 10 |
Rape | 60 |
Robbery | 50 |
Aggravated Assault | 340 |
Burglary | 180 |
Larceny | 750 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 80 |
Arson | 3 |
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Common Warrant Types in Lake County, FL
Public arrest records in Lake County can include information about different warrant types that may be issued by courts. A warrant grants law enforcement legal authority to arrest an individual or take other legally authorized action. Note that the terms used to describe various warrant types and the specifics of each type may differ from one jurisdiction to another. The most common warrant types in Lake County include the following:
An arrest warrant is issued when there is sufficient evidence to suggest that someone committed a crime. Once signed by a judge, an arrest warrant allows law enforcement to locate and arrest the individual suspected of having committed a crime. Arrest warrants typically show up in arrest and booking records.
A bench warrant is issued by the court when an individual fails to appear for a scheduled hearing or does not comply with a court directive. Bench warrants may lead to arrest even for minor offenses.
Civil capias warrants arise from civil proceedings, such as lawsuits or child support cases, when a person fails to obey a judge's order.
When a person wanted in another jurisdiction is found in Lake County, a fugitive warrant enables local authorities to detain them. These cases often lead to extradition and are reflected in both arrest records and court filings.
Signed by the governor, a governor's warrant is used to authorize the return of a wanted individual to another state. While not as common, governor's warrants appear in records related to out-of-state criminal matters.
Although not arrest-related, a search warrant allows law enforcement to enter a location or property to find specific evidence. Arrests sometimes follow, which may cause search warrant details to be found in case summaries and arrest reports.
To find current bookings or check an inmate's status, members of the public may use the Lake County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search portal. This portal provides real-time information on individuals currently held in the Lake County Detention Center. While the Sheriff's Office handles active warrants, many users can begin a lookup through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Wanted Persons Search for statewide records. For local inquiries, individuals may contact the Sheriff's Office directly or check the Lake County Clerk of Court records for cases with outstanding warrants.
Also, official criminal court cases and historical arrest data are maintained by the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court, and anyone may search court records online for case statuses, charges, and filed documents. Individuals may register for alerts through the Florida VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) service for automated updates on inmate releases.
Interested persons can request Lake County administrative or sheriff records either at the courthouse in Tavares or through the online Records Request Portal (JustFOIA). Each search costs $2, printed pages are $1 each, and certified copies cost $2.
The following list highlights the jail and detention facilities serving Lake County:
Agency Name: Lake County Sheriff's Office
City: Tavares, Florida
Type: County law enforcement agency
Address: 360 W Ruby St, Tavares, FL 32778
Phone Number: (352) 343-9501 (Office of the Sheriff/Administration), (352) 343-2101 (Non-emergency)
Website: https://www.lcso.org/
Staffing: The Lake County Sheriff's Office employs about 850 personnel
Police Department | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Astatula Town Office and Police Department | 25019 County Road 561, Astatula, FL 34705 | (352) 742-2422 |
Clermont Police Department | 3600 Highway 27, Clermont, FL 34711 | (352) 394-5588 |
Eustis Police Department | 51 E Norton Avenue, Eustis, FL 32726 | (352) 483-5400 |
Fruitland Park Police Department | 506 W Berckman Street, Fruitland Park, FL 34731 | (352) 787-6969 |
Groveland Police Department | 408 W Orange Street, Groveland, FL 34736 | (352) 429-4166 |
Lady Lake Police Department | 423 Fennell Blvd, Lady Lake, FL 32159 | (352) 751-1560 |
Leesburg Police Department | 915 N Orange Avenue, Leesburg, FL 34748 | (352) 787-2121 |
Mascotte Police Department | 100 E Myers Boulevard, Mascotte, FL 34753 | (352) 429-3393 |
Mount Dora Police Department | 1300 N Donnelly Street, Mount Dora, FL 32757 | (352) 735-7130 |
Tavares Police Department | 201 E Alfred Street, Tavares, FL 32778 | (352) 742-6300 |
Umatilla Police Department | 251 N Central Avenue, Umatilla, FL 32784 | (352) 669-4471 |
Howey-in-the-Hills Police Department | 11 N Palm Avenue, Howey-In-The-Hills, FL 34737 | (352) 324-2030 |
Agency Name: Lake County Sheriff's Office
State: Florida
City: Tavares
Type: County detention facility
Address: 551 West Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778
Phone Number: (352) 742-4000
Website: https://www.lcso.org/bureaus/corrections_operations/
Facility Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Lake County Jail and Detention Center | 551 W Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778 | (352) 742-4006 |