A Leesburg man was arrested on a warrant Tuesday for the theft of a blue golf cart in a case from early 2023.

Jason Michael Taylor, 36, was transported from Suwannee County Jail to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office early Tuesday morning on a warrant for grand theft.  

On the morning of Dec. 2, 2023, an officer with the Leesburg Police Department responded to 743 Taffy Lane regarding a stolen golf cart, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County. Upon arrival, he met with the complainant who provided a verbal and written statement. 

The complainant worked for Flying Colors and was given permission by the owner, the victim, to use a dark blue EZ-Go golf cart as a commuter vehicle for work. On Dec. 1, 2023, the complainant last saw the golf cart when he parked it westbound under the carport at 6 p.m. When he came outside the next day, he noticed the golf cart was no longer where he parked it, the affidavit said. 

The complainant suspected the vehicle was stolen by someone driving it through the grass between other residents and back out to Taffy Lane. He always backed the golf cart out that way but never drove through on the grass. He showed the officer golf cart tracks in the grass that circled around his residence and onto Taffy Lane, the affidavit said. 

The keys for the golf cart were left in the cupholder. The cart was electric, and the charger of unknown make and model was stored under the seat. The complainant described its distinguishing characteristics to be faint Trans Air lettering on the rear bed, two black hooks on the right side for a towbar attachment and a wrench on the keychain, the affidavit said. 

Due to the complainant not being the owner of the vehicle, the officer drove to meet with the victim. He confirmed the complainant had permission to take the golf cart home and valued it at $2,000. He stated the golf cart had “daddy sheriff” written on it, but he could not provide the year or a VIN/serial number. It did not have a Florida registration, the affidavit said. 

A canvass of the local area yielded negative results for the golf cart. Due to the victim not having a VIN/serial number at the time of the officer’s report, he could not mark it as stolen. The victim still indicated “yes” for intent to prosecute in his statement, the affidavit said. 

On the night of Dec. 18, 2023, another officer responded to 743 Taffy Lane in reference to the recovery of a stolen golf cart. He met with the complainant who advised that he just recovered the victim’s stolen golf cart. He said he got a call earlier that evening from his girlfriend’s daughter who had been contacted by a female subject asking if they about a blue golf cart, the affidavit said. 

Apparently, Taylor, the son of the complainant’s girlfriend, had been staying with the subject at 1110 E. Dixie Avenue for a couple of weeks. The blue golf cart appeared there around a week ago, and Taylor had been trying to sell it. The subject became suspicious about the vehicle and Taylor, so she called the daughter who told her it was stolen from the complainant’s home, the affidavit said. 

The complainant drove to the subject’s residence and recovered the golf cart. She told him that she did not want him to have the police respond to her house, so he said he would notify law enforcement after returning to his home with the golf cart. Taylor was not there when he responded, and the only person who could connect him to the golf cart was the subject, the affidavit said. 

The complainant provided the officer with the subject’s number. He also told a detective to contact her by phone because she did not want Taylor to know she was involved in the recovery of the golf cart. He also advised that the victim was not in town and would not return until Dec. 22, 2023. He believed the victim was still like to press charges but was not certain, the affidavit said. 

The complainant stated the golf cart was cleaner now than it was when it was taken. The battery was dead, but he was currently charging it to see if it still worked. He was also able to provide its serial number, the affidavit said. 

A detective spoke with the complainant throughout the investigation, and he provided more information. He advised that his girlfriend’s daughter spoke to the subject about the incident, learning that Taylor drove the golf cart to the subject’s house and tried selling it to her, the affidavit said. 

The subject had given Taylor multiple rides to the daughter’s house to drop him off. She spoke with the daughter about the golf cart parked on her property, with the daughter stating it was stolen from her stepfather’s, or the complainant’s, house. She responded that she did not want to get involved and told her to contact the owner to remove it from her property, the affidavit said. 

The daughter then contacted the complainant and explained the situation. He and the victim went to pick up the golf cart, and the subject told them to take it without contacting law enforcement. So, they got the golf cart and left the residence, the affidavit said. 

The complainant also advised that Taylor was trespassed from his residence and was not allowed on his property. He did not allow or consent for Taylor to use the golf cart, the affidavit said. 

The detective spoke with the victim during the investigation, as well. He advised that the golf cart cost about $2,000 but cost around $400 to repair. He still intended to prosecute for the theft, the affidavit said. 

On June 26, a detective contacted the subject and spoke to her about the incident. She advised that her friends knew Taylor, and he occasionally accompanied them to her house. She woke up one morning and noticed the golf cart at her house, the affidavit said. 

The subject asked her friends about it and was told Taylor brought it over. He was trying to sell it to one of her friends. She was told that the golf cart might have been stolen, so she informed the complainant’s stepdaughter about it. She did not want to be involved in the case due to possible retaliation from Taylor, hence her hesitation in contacting law enforcement, the affidavit said. 

Taylor was ultimately transferred to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant charging him with grand theft motor vehicle. He was taken to Lake County Jail with bond set at $4,500.