A Summerfield woman was arrested after lying about her identity when found dumpster diving behind Kohl’s at Lady Lake Crossing.
An officer conducted property checks behind Kohl’s, located at 492 N. U.S. Hwy. 27/441, at around 1 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. As the officer approached the back of the building, she observed headlights illuminating the wall on the other side of a storage container. She went around and observed a vehicle facing the building with a man standing outside of the dumpster and 34-year-old Leslie Rena Stauffer inside.
The officer approached them and asked if they would provide identification. Stauffer went into the passenger side of the vehicle and retrieved a driver’s license from her purse. Looking at it, the officer knew the photo on the license did not match Stauffer and appeared much older, the report said.
The officer asked Stauffer what her name was, and she stated the name on the license. She was asked three times what her birthdate was, to which she gave a fake one that did not match what was on the license, either. When asked once more, she finally gave the correct date of birth on the license, the report said.
The officer told Stauffer she believed the information was false, and it was crime. She did not look like the photo on the license. Stauffer then admitted to giving her mother’s license and stated it was an accident. She also provided her real name, the report said.
When asked why she continued to lie even after being asked multiple times, Stauffer advised that she did not want to get into trouble for not having her identification on her. The report noted her ID card was in her purse right inside her wallet.
Stauffer was subsequently arrested and charged with false ID given to law enforcement. She was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $1,000 bond.