Jail Lawn Joyride Didn't End Well for Driver, Deputies Say

A Brooksville man’s Sunday morning joyride ended with a trip to the hospital followed by a lengthy list of criminal charges, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

It seems Michael Lee Roberts’ joyride didn’t involve a leisurely drive along scenic back roads. Roberts, deputies say, opted instead to drive a mid-size sports unity vehicle onto the lawn of the Hernando County Detention Center where he proceeded to strike a 2-inch gas line, causing a leak just before 11 a.m.

TECO gas technicians and Hernando fire crews were able to get the leak under control rather quickly, the sheriff’s office noted in an email to media. When deputies check the SUV, however, they found a “suspicious device” and ended up having to call in the Citrus County Bomb Squad for an assist. The device turned out to be nothing, the sheriff’s office said.

Even so, Roberts, 31, found himself in plenty of hot water. Once in custody, Roberts was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. He was later charged on an active felony warrant related to the illegal discharge of a firearm from a vehicle. He was also charged with three counts of threatening to harm a public servant and two counts of felony criminal mischief, the sheriff’s office noted.

After being cleared by the hospital, Roberts was returned to the scene of his alleged crime – the Hernando County Jail. Deputies say he’s no stranger to the accommodations either.

“Roberts is the same individual who was arrested on July 27 on charges of Criminal Mischief and Resisting an Officer with Violence after he drove an SUV erratically on the jail lawn and then crashed into a flagpole.”

Roberts remained behind bars Tuesday morning in lieu of $70,000 bond, jail records indicate.

Booking photo courtesy of the Hernando County Jail