A homeless man with a history of trespassing was taken into custody after being caught sleeping on the Leesburg Library’s accessible ramp.
Officers came to the library at 100 E. Main St. about 5:36 a.m. on Friday after receiving a report of someone sleeping on the grounds. Upon arrival, a Leesburg police officer discovered 29-year-old Michael Poole fast asleep on the building’s handicap ramp, flanked by a gray suitcase and a Huffy bicycle.
After identifying Poole, a check with the Leesburg Communication Center confirmed that he was already a wanted person. Poole had an ongoing Lake County warrant for failing to appear in court. Furthermore, records showed that he had been issued a formal trespass warning that specifically prohibited him from entering the library property on October 30, 2025.
Poole was brought in for arrest for trespassing after being warned. A criminal history check found that he had two prior convictions for the same offense. Officers took his bicycle and suitcase for safekeeping before detaining him at the Leesburg Police Department. He was then brought to Lake County Jail without incident.
This new arrest highlights an ongoing fight in the city’s downtown sector, where officials have already been warned that a growing transient population threatens local businesses.
It also comes when the city implements a strict anti-camping policy approved by Leesburg commissioners in the fall of 2025. The local resolution was passed in response to a state bill sponsored by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Florida Statute 125.0231 expressly forbids unauthorized camping or staying on public property at any time.
To ensure that municipalities comply, the law allows homeowners, business owners, and the state attorney general to initiate injunction actions against the city if it fails to crack down on people sleeping in public places, parks, or rights-of-way.
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