Executive Summary
- Lady Lake Police raided a home in The Villages Saturday night, arresting 64-year-old renter Phillip Joseph O’Day.
- Authorities seized nearly 48 grams of methamphetamine and over 43 grams of cocaine from the suspect’s rented living area.
- The operation was conducted in coordination with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to execute outstanding warrants.
- O’Day is being held without bond at the Lake County Jail on drug trafficking charges.
A 64-year-old renter was taken into custody late Saturday following a police raid at a residence in The Villages, conducted by the Lady Lake Police Department at the request of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities executed the operation at a home on the Historic Side of the community to serve warrants on individuals believed to be inside.
According to the arrest report, officers converged on the property located at 1787 W. Schwartz Blvd. in the Village of Country Club Hills around 10:30 p.m. As law enforcement established a perimeter, an unidentified female attempted to exit through a bedroom window but complied with orders to return inside. The report notes that officers observed several other individuals running through the interior of the dwelling in an apparent attempt to conceal themselves.
The homeowner, whom police described as intoxicated and initially uncooperative, eventually permitted officers to examine a living area rented by Phillip Joseph O’Day. O’Day had reportedly been residing at the location since September, following his release from a Florida state prison in July.
A search of the cordoned-off rented space yielded significant quantities of narcotics. Police recovered 47.69 grams of a green powder that tested positive for methamphetamine, 43.61 grams of a white powder confirmed as cocaine, and 7.65 grams of Alprazolam pills. Investigators also seized drug paraphernalia, including hypodermic syringes and torch lighters, along with a safe containing $2,607 in cash.
Community Safety and Law Enforcement Strategy
This operation underscores the reliance of law enforcement on inter-agency cooperation and community tips to address narcotics distribution in residential zones. Lady Lake Police Chief Steven Hunt indicated that the specific residence had generated numerous complaints, suggesting the raid was a strategic response to ongoing public nuisance and safety concerns within the retirement community. Phillip O’Day is currently held without bond at the Lake County Jail facing multiple charges, including drug trafficking. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
