A third man arrested in an incident last week at Dollar General in Lady Lake, reportedly used his toddler daughter as a human shield when police closed in on him.
Robert Anthony Morgan, 32, was arrested Tuesday on warrants charging him with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and child neglect.
He had been with other men in a van on Dec. 7 at the Dollar General on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 when law enforcement was initially alerted to reports of “machine guns.” When police officers arrived on the scene, Morgan began walking away with the toddler.
When officers closed in on Morgan, he held up the child, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department.
“At several times he would extend the child while in his grasp outward towards the officers to refuse them close contact,” according to the arrest report.
The report also noted the child restraint seat in the van had been within two feet of a gun.
Morgan was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $12,000 bond.
He was arrested earlier this month by Sumter County sheriff’s deputies.
