By now you know many of the details. A pickup owned by former Apopka Chief Administrative Officer Richard Anderson is involved in a head-on collision on SR 46 in Lake County at 1:30 AM on April 5, 2016. A lawsuit is filed. Questions are asked. Accusations are made. Anderson is charged with leaving the scene. A controversial consulting agreement is terminated.
A lot has been written. Here, here and here. But a lot of questions remain unanswered.
The Apopka Voice has studied the Arrest Warrant and Affidavit of Probable Cause prepared by the Florida Highway Patrol. The following timeline, based on the FHP affidavit, does not answer all of the remaining questions, but does clarify some issues.
April 5, 2016
A head-on collision occurs on SR 46 in Lake County. A Dodge Ram pickup owned by Richard Anderson crosses the center line and crashes head-on into a Toyota driven by Michael Falcon. Falcon is seriously injured and airlifted to ORMC. Three 911 calls are made. None from Anderson. Witnesses who arrived on scene after the crash say a man with white hair and glasses was on the scene. Two witnesses later ID the man as Richard Anderson in photo line-ups.
April 17, 2016
Former State Representative Chris Dorworth contacts John Tyron, a limo driver, about a "Money making opportunity."
April 18, 2016
Dorworth provides Tyron with Anderson's cell number and shared Tyron's number with Anderson. Anderson and Tyron meet. Later that day Tyron visits Hurley's Towing in Tavares where Anderson's truck was located.
April 19th
Anderson's truck is towed from Hurley Towing in Tavares to Prestige Ford in Mount Dora.
Also on April 19th
Michael Falcon files a lawsuit accusing Anderson of operating the vehicle that injured Michael Falcon in the head-on collision on April 5th.
May 12th
Anderson visits Prestige Ford.
May 16th
The FHP investigator obtains a laptop computer and cell phone from Prestige Ford. These items had earlier been removed from Anderson's vehicle by a GEICO representative.
May 27th
The City of Apopka notifies Anderson that he is in breach of his Lobbying and Consulting Agreement with the City.
May 31st
An Arrest Warrant is issued. Anderson surrenders to officials in Seminole County.
June 1st
The Apopka City Council votes to terminate Anderson's contract and sue him for liquidating damages.
This continues to be a developing story. The Apopka Voice will provide updates as new details emerge.
