Man declines to press charges after assault with wooden plank

Thursday, April 6

Assault with a plank

12:01 p.m., 2200 block of 12th Street

Battery: During a fight between two men, one was hit in the back of the head with a wooden plank. The victim told police the two have had altercations in the past, and during a verbal argument he turned his head and was struck with a white plank of wood.

The accused told police the victim first “knocked into him” during the argument, and that he struck him with the plank in self defense. There was no video evidence of the altercation. He showed the officer the plank that was used, which had a small amount of blood on it. Probable cause existed to charge the accused with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, but the victim declined to press charges. He was provided with a case number and was advised that he can change his mind and prosecute at a later time.

Monday, April 10

Not everyone loves a parade

3:10 a.m., 2000 block of 29th Street

Noise complaint: Officers met with a man who wanted to express his displeasure with the city allowing an Easter parade and the loud noise that it produces. The complainant explained that shootings have occurred during past Easter parades.

Tuesday, April 11

Nasty note

12:45 a.m., 2000 block of Hyde Park Street

Dispute: A woman found what she described as a hostile note on her car. She told police she discovered the note on her passenger side window while taking trash outside. She advised that she has had previous verbal altercations with an acquaintance and suspected this incident to be related, but did not know for certain. The complainant was educated on injunction procedures and no further action was taken.

Suspected prowlers

9:20 p.m., 1000 block of North Washington Boulevard

Burglary: A nearby business owner called police after seeing what he suspected was a possible burglary in process after seeing four males checking doors and carrying what appeared to be burglary tools. A fifth man was described as wearing shorts. No video surveillance of the alleged incident was available.

An officer located a suspect nearby who did fit a description. The man provided police with his information and was released because there was no evidence of a burglary having taken place. Officers checked the area for any signs of vehicle burglaries or suspicious groups in the area, finding none.

Lack of commitment

11:40 p.m., 5100 block of North Tamiami Trail

Disturbance: Officers were dispatched to a dispute in the parking lot of a business, where two men were hanging out before the girlfriend of one of them arrived and began to argue with him. As they entered his friend’s vehicle to leave, the complainant told police the woman began to chase and throw rocks at the friend’s vehicle, although she missed.

The complainant told police he wanted his girlfriend to be evaluated under the Baker Act because she was behaving irrationally. She was evaluated by police, but it was determined she did not meet the criteria for involuntary detention at a medical facility.