May 18, 2020
As some may recall from a recent press release, the Levy
County Sheriff’s Office and Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office were looking for
William Lancaster. William ran from Levy County Deputies last week and was able
to evade capture. The following day a truck and goose neck trailer was reported
stolen near where William was last seen. The trailer was found abandoned but
the truck was still missing.
On Sunday, May 17, 2020 Deputies were surveilling residences
in the Fanning Springs area. Deputies spoke to a homeowner who not only
confirmed William was inside asleep, but also gave our deputies permission to
go inside and get him.
William Lancaster was passed out on the couch. Once awakened
by Corporal Jeremy Dean and Deputy Al Horne, William made series of horrible
decisions. Instead of surrendering peacefully, he decided to run. His efforts
were quickly interrupted by Corporal Dean who tackled him to the ground. William
began to struggle to escape from Corporal Dean’s grasp. Corporal Dean had most
of this situation under control and Deputy Horne came to assist.
This is when William meets Deputy Horne. True to form, William
makes yet another bad decision and grabs Deputy Horne by his bullet proof vest
and tries to throw him, to no avail.
William was searched after he was handcuffed. Inside of his
pockets deputies found pills and needles. William confessed he had taken some
of his pills along with some meth just prior to deputies getting there. The
drugs he ingested apparently caused William to pass out. Deputies quickly
sprang into action and gave William a dose of Narcan which they carry on their
duty belt, to bring him back around. EMS was contacted and recommended he be
taken to the hospital for follow-up treatment.
William’s stay at the hospital was short. William is
currently being held at the Levy County Detention Facility. He has been charged
with drug offenses and battery on deputies as well as his previous crime of
domestic battery. His bond has not yet been assigned.