On March 15, 2022, at approximately 12:15 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a used car dealership in the 36500 block of North Green Bay Road, Beach Park, for a report of a suspicious person.  Sheriff’s deputies arrived and a deputy saw a man hiding underneath a vehicle in the parking lot.

As the sheriff’s deputy approached the man who was under the vehicle, the man ignored directions from the deputy, and fled on foot.  Sheriff’s Canine Duke arrived at the scene and was deployed to apprehend the fleeing man.  Canine Duke bit the man and was able to subdue him until sheriff’s deputies took the man into custody.  

The man, Oscar Ponce, 23, of the 0-100 block of West Tall Oak Drive, Hainesville, was evaluated by paramedics for a dig bite to the hand.  He was then transported to the Lake County Jail.

Sheriff’s deputies located multiple car jacks and a saw, consistent with being used in the thefts of catalytic converters.  It is believed Ponce had accomplices with him during the catalytic converter theft attempt, who were able to flee while sheriff’s deputies pursued Ponce.  

Ponce was subsequently charged with possession of burglary tools (class 4 felony), theft, criminal damage to property, and resisting arrest.  He remains held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing this morning.  

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating and working to determine the identity of the others involved.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.