A 35-year-old homeless Ocala man was arrested after repeatedly trespassing inside an abandoned mobile home.
On Sunday, October 31, several Ocala Police Department officers responded to a residence in response to reports of suspicious activity.
Upon arrival, one of the officers noticed a man, later identified as Ronnie Smothers, standing near the entrance of a mobile home.
A neighbor had reported seeing Smothers enter the mobile home numerous times through the window before leaving through the front door.
The officer advised that there was going to be a pat down for safety reasons, and Smothers immediately handed over a serrated knife that was being kept in his right pocket.
During the pat down, the officer found two used hypodermic needles along with a burnt silver spoon with a dark residue on it.
The spoon residue later field tested positive for heroin.
The officer asked if Smothers had been inside the mobile home, and he initially stated that he had not gone inside.
When the officer stepped inside the mobile home, clothing, shoes, and other personal items were in the living room area.
Smothers admitted that the items inside were his, and he stated that he had entered the mobile home to fix the door lock and handle.
The officer interviewed four surrounding neighbors, and each one had observed Smothers entering the mobile home on numerous occasions.
After contacting the regional manager with the property’s management company, the officer was informed that the property was locked and vacant, the previous owner was deceased, and there should be no one in or out of the property.
Smothers was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail. He faces a felony charge for trespassing along with a misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia.
A court date has been scheduled on November 30 at 9:00 a.m., according to jail records.