Discovery and Initial Stop
A routine patrol by the Umatilla Police Department led to the arrest of a Guatemalan teenager after officers discovered a dead deer in his SUV along with a stolen firearm. Melvin Ruvein Lopez, 18, was stopped around 3 a.m. Saturday after an officer noticed his silver SUV leaving a Circle K without stopping. The vehicle was pulled over at Turtle Run and State Road 19, where the officer observed the suspicious circumstances.
Arrest and Charges
Upon questioning, it was revealed that Lopez did not have a valid driver’s license, nor did the four other occupants in the vehicle. Through the use of Google Translate, officers learned Lopez’s identity and confirmed he only possessed an ID card. Further inspection of the vehicle revealed a bloodied deer in the back, and a 9mm pistol, later identified as stolen from Jacksonville, was found in the center console. Lopez admitted to shooting the deer, using his vehicle’s headlights to aid in the hunt, about 20 miles north of the traffic stop location.
Legal Proceedings
Lopez was charged with grand theft of a firearm, driving without a valid license, and illegal possession and hunting of a deer out of season using a firearm and light. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) officer who responded read Lopez his rights in Spanish, to which Lopez agreed to speak. Lopez was subsequently taken to Lake County Jail and released after posting a $5,500 bond. The incident highlights the importance of routine patrols in uncovering illegal activities and ensuring community safety.