Spring Hill Man Arrested After Failing to Appear, Found Hiding in Closet

Anthony James David, 48, of Spring Hill was arrested and remained held without bond at the Hernando County Jail after deputies located him inside a Spring Hill home following a bench warrant issued for his failure to appear in court. Court records show David did not appear for a hearing on November 18 related to an August 2025 case alleging he practiced medicine without a license, prompting Judge Kurt Hitzeman to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Deputies conducted surveillance on December 9 at a residence listed as 5191 Merrifield Court for approximately thirty minutes. During that period, deputies observed David opening and closing a side garage door. When deputies made contact at the garage door they spoke with David's mother, Lorraine David. According to the report, she initially denied he was inside the home, then after a brief conversation admitted he was present and escorted deputies into the residence. Authorities located David hiding inside a bedroom closet and took him into custody without further incident.

The case is the latest in a lengthy criminal history. Publicly available records show a pattern of arrests across nearly two decades, including a 2007 arrest for impersonating a physician after allegedly posing as a doctor at Tampa General Hospital. Since that time David has been arrested at least ten times in Hernando County, with past charges that include credit card fraud, check fraud, dealing in stolen property, organized fraud, stalking, aggravated stalking, and multiple counts of impersonating medical personnel.

For Hernando County residents the arrest highlights several local implications. The alleged practice of medicine without a license poses direct public safety risks and can undermine confidence in legitimate health care providers. The case also illustrates the role of court enforcement in ensuring defendants appear for hearings and the practical challenges deputies face when executing bench warrants in residential settings.

Local institutions may face pressure to review procedures for detecting impersonation and protecting patients. Hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement agencies can reinforce credential checks and reporting mechanisms so residents can verify who is providing medical care. The court system will proceed with the pending charges, and the community will watch as prosecutors and judges address whether prior convictions factor into decisions on prosecution and pretrial detention.