- January 3, 2025
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4 p.m., 1500 block of Main Street
Disturbance: While on patrol in downtown, an officer observed a man bleeding from his face. Upon initial observation, it was apparent, according to the incident report, that he was highly intoxicated as his speech was slurred and he was unable to stand straight.
His head wound appeared severe and, when asked, the subject was unable to understand the need for medical attention. After summoning a first responder, a shop owner informed the officer the man had been inside his shop, acting confrontational with a patron and throwing items around inside the premises. When the patron went outside, the subject followed and attempted to physically assault him and, in the process, lost his balance, falling to the ground causing his head injury.
For his part, the shop owner wanted the subject removed from the property. The subject was unable to answer basic questions, such as the current month or year and, in his highly intoxicated state, was determined to be of harm to himself and others. As a result, he was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital under the Marchman act.
7:48 p.m., 1500 block of Tarpon Avenue
Dispute: A complainant told an officer his male roommate had taken his suitcase containing important documents. He advised he had been renting a room shared by multiple individuals and, while working a construction job out of town two weeks prior left his suitcase that contained his Nicaraguan identification, immigration paperwork and some clothing.
Upon returning, he noticed the suitcase, and its contents were missing. The roommate in question stated he believed the man was not returning and the suitcase had been abandoned, so, naturally, he sent it to his mother in Texas. He added he had looked through the suitcase before sending it, noting no documents inside.
The roommate called his mother, who told the officer she would send back the suitcase and all of its contents immediately, confirming her son’s contention that it contained no sensitive documents. The complainant was advised to contact immigration in order to obtain copies of the lost papers and was advised of the process to obtain a Florida ID card. The roommate said he had no intent to deprive the complainant of his belongs and both parties agreed it was a misunderstanding.
3:58 a.m., Greenway Drive
Fight: Consumption of alcohol was a contributing factor to an early-morning melee at an apartment complex. Upon arrival, officers observed one man with a cut on his jaw, who advised he was at his apartment drinking with his friend, when he said they were done drinking for the night as he had church in the morning. At that point, the friend became angry as he wanted to continue drinking, which led to a verbal dispute and the eventual multiple punches to the church-goer’s jaw.
Prior to arrival, the subject had left the apartment and was later found walking along Fruitville Road where he was observed with a swollen forehead, a scraped knee and blood on his shorts. Providing a contradictory account of the scuffle, the subject said the complainant arrived home already intoxicated and began an argument over an incident that occurred on Nicaragua “a long time ago,” according to the incident report.
Unable to provide details of the altercation, the subject said that instead it was he who was attacked. He claimed he had been living in the apartment with his co-combatant for six months, but was unable to provide proof of residency. He said he was walking to his cousin’s home in order to defuse the situation.
Arriving at the “cousin’s” apartment, a woman occupant, who based on her statements had earlier been at the scene of the altercation, told the officer that not only does the subject not live at the complainant’s apartment as he claimed, nobody not know who he is. Based on discrepancies in the subject’s statements, it was determined probable cause exists to charge him with simple battery, although the complainant did not wish to press charges.
Due to the subject’s level of intoxication, and to prevent further issues, he was given a courtesy ride to a requested location.
10 a.m., 1400 block of First Street
Suspicious incident: Claiming she was drugged and beaten the prior night near the Palm Avenue Garage, a woman told an officer she did not witness her own attack because she was asleep. There were no marks or other indications of trauma on her body, there was no evidence she was beaten and “there were no witnesses to the event, including herself,” according to the incident report.
The woman refused any medical treatment by EMS, and it was discovered she has an extensive case history with SPD of reporting the same situation at different locations. The officer concluded the woman did not meet the criteria for a Baker Act.
8:15 a.m., 700 block of Benjamin Franklin Boulevard
Suspicious incident: Awakened by a loud noise outside her hotel room, a complainant said she saw a male in his late 20s outside her 11th-floor window. She said she screamed at the man, who was perched on a painting scaffold suspended from the roof of the building, to leave immediately.
Instead, the woman said the subject merely smirked at her and refused the leave. After contacting the hotel staff, she said the worker stopped working on the scaffold. Reads the incident report, “The complainant just requested to make a report because she thinks that the worker is a creep.”
It was determined no crime had been committed and no further action was required.
