49.9 F
Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

60-year-old man once trespassed for photographing juveniles at Belleview splash park behind bars

Thomas A. Steadman

A 60-year-old man who was once trespassed from a splash park in Belleview for taking photos of juveniles found himself behind bars on Wednesday morning.

A Belleview Police officer was called to the area of Lake Lillian and SE Robinson Road and when he arrived, he located Thomas A. Steadman, of Lake City, in a parked blue Chevrolet pickup truck. Steadman claimed he was waiting for the library to open and admitted that he had been trespassed from the area in the past, a police report says.

After being placed under arrest, Steadman said, “I’m highly allergic to chemicals. The only thing I do is a little bit of pot.” A short time later the officer found a small white tube containing a green leafy substance that field-tested positive for marijuana and a small pipe in Steadman’s pocket, the report says.

Steadman was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with trespass after warning, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held on $1,500 bond and is due in court March 16 at 8:30 a.m.