Cops Corner

Barroom break-up borders brawl

A man insults restaurant staff and threatens to throw glassware after woman deals a death blow to their relationship. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.


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  • | 5:00 a.m. November 13, 2024
  • Sarasota
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Sunday, Oct. 27

Fight night

2:42 a.m., 1500 block of Main Street

Disturbance: A man called SPD to report he was beaten up at a late-night downtown watering hole and that his phone was stolen in the process. Video footage, though, showed the complainant in part inciting the fisticuffs.

The complainant said he was not familiar with the other party involved in the scuffle.

An officer spoke with the owner of the establishment who advised there was an argument between the other party and the complainant’s girlfriend, and that he was escorted off the premises by security. Although the complainant was urged to remain inside until the subject left the area, he began yelling at the man through the door and lunged toward him. The fight was broken up by the security personnel.

The complainant was advised that no crime had occurred because the incident was mutual combat. He also admitted that his phone was not stolen, but that it was lost in the brawl. After requesting the incident be documented, the complainant and his girlfriend departed in an Uber.


Monday, Oct. 28

Deadbolt disorientation

1:37 p.m., 900 block of Benjamin Franklin Drive

Suspicious incident: A woman said an unidentified man came to her door and advised her that he was there to change the locks on her condominium. She said he told her he was sent by his company to take photos of the door and change the locks at the request of a mortgage company.

That further confused the woman as she does not have a mortgage and owns the residence outright. The officer contacted the company that sent the locksmith and left a voice mail. No further action was taken.


Wednesday, Oct. 30

Free ride

7:44 p.m., Intersection of North East Avenue and Fruitville Road

Disturbance: A man flagged down an officer and advised he was involved in an verbal altercation with his wife and wanted her removed from his vehicle. Although still legally married, the couple had not lived together for 20 years.

The officer observed a woman in the back seat of the vehicle and, after contact was made, she said she simply wanted a ride downtown to the bus station, which is why she refused to exit the car. The officer advised that she needed to get out and offered to drive her to the bus station, which defused the situation.


Barstool breakup

8:59 p.m., 1800 block of South Osprey Avenue

Disturbance: A break-up dinner at a restaurant prompted the dumpee to take the conclusion of the relationship out on restaurant staff. He was sitting at the bar of the restaurant when, upon learning he is newly single, became irate and inexplicably began to accuse certain staff members of being gay.

Becoming increasingly irate, he threatened to throw drinkware and fight employees. Witnesses told officers, however, that he did not brandish any drink ware at any point. Employees did report that he did try to provoke a fight and attempted to overturn a table that, like all the tables, was fastened to the floor.

A manager was able to eventually de-escalate the situation and convince the man to leave the property, which he had done prior to law enforcement arrival.

The now ex-girlfriend said they were in a relationship and had lived together, but she removed all of her belongings from his residence and is staying elsewhere. She said they were discussing their breakup over dinner until the man altered his ill-fated strategy to win her heart by uttering homophobic epithets and threatening violence with drinkware.

The woman said she would remain at the restaurant for a little longer and then return to her new residence.


Thursday, Oct. 31

Gas war

11:16 a.m., 1100 block of North Tuttle Avenue

Dispute: It may be a case of mistaken hand gestures that led to a dispute over who was next in line to use a gas pump. Although the complainant advised dispatch that he no longer wanted to meet with law enforcement while en route, he did describe the situation.

He advised he attempted to pump diesel at a different pump by using his company credit card, which did not function at that pump. He drove around to another pump where another truck appeared to be queued. As he approached the pump, he observed the queued driver point to the pump, and he must have misinterpreted the meaning.

The complainant advised he gave the other driver a thumbs-up signal to indicate that he was intending to use that pump, then maneuvered his vehicle to the location. This prompted the other driver to angrily approach him because he cut in line.

The other driver advised he pointed at the pump to indicate that he was next, and then in no uncertain terms made his displeasure of the situation known. A verbal argument ensued and the complainant said he called law enforcement only because of the other driver’s initial aggressiveness. 

As the situation had calmed, the complainant said he no longer wished to make a report.

 

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