A 70-year-old woman from the Village of Belvedere was arrested on a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge after a driver told deputies she hurled a hard plastic container of dog treats at a passing SUV, chipping its paint and prompting a $1,000 repair estimate. The incident unfolded late Sunday night near the intersection of Thistledown Way and Leicester Terrace in The Villages.
According to Villages-News.com, the incident occurred at about 10:26 p.m. on Nov. 8. The driver, who was behind the wheel of a black 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, reported that she was entering the neighborhood when she spotted an elderly woman standing motionless in the roadway.
The driver said she made a wide turn to avoid the pedestrian, later identified as Eve B. Ross. That's when Ross allegedly threw the hard plastic container of dog treats, striking the passenger side of the vehicle between the front and rear doors, the report states.
Deputies Point to Chipped Paint and Missing Pollen as Evidence
A Sumter County Sheriff's Office deputy who responded to the scene observed chipped paint on the SUV consistent with a blunt object impact, per the same account. 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 later observed dog treats scattered across several feet of the roadway at the scene of the incident, the report notes.
Ross Says She Was Searching for a Missing Dog
Deputies went to Ross's home on Leicester Terrace to speak with her about the allegation. She claimed her dog was missing and that she had been searching the neighborhood while carrying the plastic container to attract the pet, the station's report says.
A deputy reportedly observed signs that Ross was intoxicated during the contact. After being read her Miranda warnings, Ross declined to speak further with law enforcement, according to the report.
What the Charge Could Mean Under Florida Law
Ross was arrested Sunday night on a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief, booked at the Sumter County Detention Center, and released after posting $1,000 bond, per Villages-News.com's account. Under Florida Statutes section 806.13, a person commits criminal mischief by willfully and maliciously injuring or damaging another person's property, and the law classifies damage of $1,000 or more as a third-degree felony, subject to statutory exceptions and conditions.
It remains unclear whether the alleged damage will ultimately be assessed at that threshold, as the $1,000 figure cited in the report reflects the driver's own repair estimate rather than a final determination. No additional case details, such as a disposition or court date, have been made public.
