A resident of the Historic Side of The Villages was arrested after reportedly torturing his neighbors, including a former “lady friend,” by continuously driving his golf cart into their driveways, honking the horn, and shouting profanities.
The Lady Lake Police Department arrested Richard Paladino, 67, on Tuesday for stalking and disorderly conduct. Officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of Kiley Court just before 8 p.m. after receiving many complaints about his escalating conduct.
Paladino, a Connecticut native with several tattoos, is accused of frightening locals in his neighborhood throughout the day.
According to the police complaint, Paladino specifically targeted a female neighbor with whom he had a six-year intimate engagement that ended in February. The woman told police that she awoke shortly after midnight Tuesday to Paladino knocking on her front door, demanding she open it while shouting obscenities. She phoned law authorities twice more that day, stating that he was screaming at her from outside her house and then drove his golf cart into her driveway while constantly blaring the horn and hurling profanities. The woman told police that she is now afraid for her safety and avoids going outside.
Paladino then began to target other residences on the street. Another neighbor informed police that he was watching television when Paladino pulled into his driveway. Paladino allegedly exclaimed that he was not going to beat the man up “right now” and ordered that he come outside. When the neighbor begged Paladino to leave and threatened to contact the cops, Paladino yelled insults, including a homophobic slur, and warned the man that he would regret it.
While an officer was interviewing the male victim, Paladino arrived in his golf cart and began escalating his voice. He had to be told several times by law authorities to leave the property before he was arrested.
He had already been detained for erratic behavior in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.
After his arrest on Tuesday, Paladino was sent to Leesburg Regional Medical Center for medical clearance. He was subsequently placed into the Lake County Jail and released after paying a $12,500 bond.
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