A CONFRONTATION AT WOOTON PARK ENDED IN A FELONY ARREST | TAVARES

A confrontation at one of Tavares’ best-known public parks led to the arrest of a longtime Lake County pastor last week. Tavares Police responded to Wooton Park at approximately 1:39 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a report of a battery at one of the park’s gazebos. According to the arrest affidavit, Richard Edward “Rick” Pughe, 60, lead pastor of HopeCity Church in Mount Dora, became involved in a dispute between members of a family at the park. Police reviewed City of Tavares video footage of the confrontation. Investigators said the footage showed Pughe approach a man, block his path and strike him with an elbow, causing the man to fall backward into a bench. The alleged victim was over 65 years old. Pughe later told police he believed he was intervening in an escalating family confrontation and said he reacted after feeling the man approach him aggressively from behind. He later went to the Tavares Police Department, provided a written statement and was arrested on a charge of battery on a person 65 or older, which is a felony under Florida law. He was subsequently released on $2,500 bond. An arrest is an accusation, and the charge has not been proven in court. 📍 Wooton Park | Tavares 🔴 SCROLL LESS. 🟢 KNOW MORE. Lake County Now