A search for a missing pet in The Villages ended in a late-night arrest after a woman allegedly hurled a plastic container of dog treats at a passing SUV.
Eve B. Ross, 70, of the Belmont Villas in the Village of Belvedere, was arrested Sunday night on a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief.
The incident occurred at about 10:26 p.m. Nov. 8 near the intersection of Thistledown Way and Leicester Terrace in the villa community. A woman driving a black 2023 Chevrolet Equinox reported she was entering the neighborhood when she spotted an elderly woman standing motionless in the roadway. The driver stated she made a wide turn to avoid the pedestrian, but as she passed, Ross allegedly threw the hard plastic container of dog treats, striking the passenger side of the vehicle between the front and rear doors.
A deputy from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office observed chipped paint on the SUV consistent with a blunt object impact. The deputy also noted a noticeable reduction in the yellow pollen covering the vehicle around the damaged area, indicating a recent strike. The driver estimated it would cost $1,000 to repair the vehicle.
Deputies subsequently made contact with Ross at her home on...