A man with a long criminal history was the subject of a manhunt Thursday afternoon that centered on a section of the Village of Duval.
A Sumter County sheriff’s deputy at about 1 p.m. initiated a traffic stop of a truck driven by 51-year-old Ronald Dale Fleck. He then fled on foot. A woman who was in the vehicle with Fleck did not flee, according to a spokesman with the sheriff’s office.
Soon a helicopter and K-9 unit were brought in as part of the search. The initial search was not successful, but deputies returned to the area at about 4 p.m. after another reported sighting of Fleck.
A perimeter was established along Odell Circle and at Sumter Grand in The Villages. That search was called off at about 6 p.m.
Fleck, who has previously listed addresses in Lady Lake and Wildwood, is being sought on an out-of-county warrant.
He has previously been arrested in Lake County on charges of felony domestic battery, cocaine possession and driving while license suspended.
Thomas and Bunny Christoph, who live at Sumter Grand independent living on County Road 466A, had seen the sheriff’s helicopter when they were out on a golf scramble with Sumter Grand friends.
“It’s good to see our law enforcement out on the case,” Thomas Christoph said.
A reverse 911 call went out to residents in the area.
You can also receive alerts from the sheriff’s office via the Code Red program. Learn more at http://www.sumtercountysheriff.org/
