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ARCHER – A man wanted on a felony drug warrant was arrested Monday afternoon after deputies with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office used K-9 teams to locate him hiding beneath a large pile of debris inside an Archer residence.

Michael Louis Leopold, 47, was taken into custody at about 2:13 p.m. Jan. 12, 2026, after deputies found him concealed under a roughly four-foot-tall mound of belongings inside the home. Authorities said Leopold was wanted in Sarasota County for failing to appear at a hearing on a felony drug charge.

Deputies were dispatched to the residence after a neighbor reported seeing Leopold enter the home. According to the sheriff’s office, another resident told deputies that only Leopold and his girlfriend, Michele Belinda Lewis, 47, should have been inside the house. A deputy noted that the pair were living in a makeshift enclosed porch attached to the residence.

Deputies said repeated knocks at the front door went unanswered. After securing a loose dog in the backyard, deputies attempted contact at the back door and reported hearing dogs and a female voice inside the home. Loud verbal commands were issued for anyone inside to exit, but no one initially complied.

Multiple K-9 teams were called to the scene. Lewis eventually was seen inside the home after deputies created a small opening near a window-mounted air conditioning unit. Authorities said Lewis initially refused to exit or identify herself and denied that Leopold was inside. After additional commands, she eventually complied and was detained in handcuffs. Lewis later provided her name and again stated she did not know Leopold’s whereabouts.

With consent from the homeowners, deputies searched the residence and reported finding a Ruger 10/22 rifle in a bedroom identified as Leopold’s. Investigators noted that Leopold is a convicted felon and legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

Deputies described the bedroom as being filled with debris and belongings. About an hour into the search, a K-9 alerted to a large pile of items inside the room. After issuing loud commands, deputies began removing items and found Leopold lying on the floor beneath a blanket.

Authorities said Leopold resisted arrest and was apprehended by a K-9. Deputies reported that Leopold grabbed the dog’s face, mouth and neck before being pulled away. Leopold was treated for a dog bite and transported to a local hospital.

Based on the size of the debris pile, deputies concluded Leopold could not have concealed himself without assistance, leading to Lewis’ arrest.

Leopold was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, striking a law enforcement K-9 and resisting an officer without violence. Records show he has one felony conviction and three misdemeanor convictions. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set Leopold’s bail at $60,000 on the new charges.

Lewis was charged with resisting an officer without violence. She has no prior criminal convictions. Judge Miller-Jones ordered Lewis released on her own recognizance under the supervision of Court Services for mental health treatment.

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Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

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