Man avenges social media slur the old-fashioned way

Wednesday, Aug. 21

Hiding in plain sight

6:48 p.m., 2 Marina Plaza

Lewd and lascivious: The suspect was no longer on scene when an officer responded to a call from a woman about a man demonstrating self-gratifying behavior while partially concealed by vegetation. 

While sitting inside her parked vehicle, the complainant advised that a man was looking at her and began to touch himself over his shorts in an inappropriate manner, then began to expose himself through an opening in the shorts. Amidst his lewd offering, modesty intervened, she believed, because other people were walking toward the area.

The complainant said her car window was open and her clear view provided certainty he was exposing and groping himself. She said she wished to press charges and provided a detailed description. She also advised the man had left the area prior to the officer’s arrival. He was not located by law enforcement.

Captive audience

9:21 a.m., 300 block of Ohio Place

Civil dispute: Responding to a call that a tenant was “busting down the door” of an apartment, the complainant wanted law enforcement's assistance to ascertain there was no damage to the interior of the unit. The subject permitted law enforcement entry, where no damage was noted.

Unrelated to the incident, the subject had a scratch on his face and a bruise on his neck, but advised that the injuries were caused by falling off a bike. He said he broke into his apartment because he had lost his keys, wallet and phone earlier that morning.

Because circumstances were not adding up, contact was made with the subject's girlfriend who advised nothing physical had occurred between the two. She advised she drove the two home early that morning and the man was trying to keep her from leaving the apartment. She fell asleep, she said, but he would not leave her alone. She was allowed to leave when her mother arrived.

She advised that when the two resided in Manatee County, he would lock her in a room to keep her from leaving the residence. She said she does not plan to live with the man in the future and requested information about obtaining a restraining order. An officer stood by while she retrieved her belongings.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Possible payback

12:53 p.m., 3100 block of Courtland Street

Criminal mischief: Two tires were slashed on a victim’s car, and she believes she knows the culprit. At some point during the previous night, the victim’s doorbell camera captured the image of a woman in the area of the car at around 3 a.m. She said the woman is a friend of her ex-boyfriend, but doesn’t know her last name, birth date or address.

As the officer continued to ask follow-up questions, the victim became argumentative, uncooperative and said, "You guys won't do anything,” and would answer no further questions. Finally, she stormed away saying, "I'll take matters into my own hands," and went inside her home.

Monday, Aug. 26

Altercation escalates

12:23 a.m., 1500 block of Selby Lane

Civll dispute: Having gathered fliers of a personal nature posted around a residential complex, the complainant accused a former friend of hanging them in retaliation for a recent argument.

The fliers featured a photograph of the complainant that also read, "If you see this girl, stay away." The photo, she said, had been altered to make it appear as though she had symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease near her mouth. 

The dispute, she said, ensued after she called the former friend “gay” on social media. No video evidence was available of the alleged perpetrator, but she added he would have had to jump a fence to gain access.

Providing the suspect’s vehicle make and model, the victim requested the incident be documented in a report.