Officers don't take social media bait

Friday, Jan. 10

Acting up

8:30 p.m., intersection of Main Street and Lemon Avenue

Disturbance: While on routine foot patrol, officers happened upon a nattily dressed “young man wearing a pink sideways hat, pink shorts and a white T-shirt,” as described in the incident report. He was carrying a green bottle and walking unsteadily.

“Based on my training and experience I believed this green bottle to be an alcoholic beverage. Also based on the male’s actions, I believed him to be intoxicated,” an officer wrote.

The subject was advised that he was in violation of the city’s open container law as well as obstruction of pedestrian traffic flow. Meanwhile, another unidentified male began recording the encounter, yelling that they did nothing wrong and informing the officers that they were ignorant. It was believed the subjects were streaming on a recently canceled and soon resurrected social media platform and that they were attempting to elicit a reaction from the officers for the delight and entertainment of their audience.

The subjects claimed the contents of the bottle were non-alcoholic and were being disorderly despite families and children in the area. The officers exercised discretion regarding the open container issue even though the bottle-holding, pink-clad subject refused to allow officers to examine it. 

Because the subjects continued filming and causing more of an issue over continuing with the investigation, the report was filed for informational purposes only and no further action was taken and the subjects were not identified. Later, it was noted, a 911 call was received regarding the same individuals continuing the pursuit of their film careers at Payne Park.

Saturday, Jan. 11

Man head-butts patrol vehicle

4:50 p.m., intersection of Main Street and Lemon Avenue

Impaired person: At the same location as the previous report, an officer responded to a call regarding a male subject who was observed screaming at passersby and throwing objects at vehicles.

Upon arrival, the officer observed the subject acting irate and disorderly. Having been aggressive toward others, uttering racial epithets, threatening violence and generally making a nuisance of himself, the subject was secured in handcuffs without issue. He was asked if he had taken drugs, which he denied, but the officer believed him to be under the influence.

When he began to be searched, the subject reacted by smashing his head against the patrol vehicle and was guided to the ground for his own protection. He was then transported to the hospital by emergency medical responders under the Baker Act.

Locked out

3:20 p.m., 800 block of South Tamiami Trail

Civil disturbance: A woman displaced from her home due to hurricane damage was staying in a hotel while storing her belongings, with permission, in a storage unit that was leased by a neighbor. After clothing and some household items had been stored there for about three weeks, she told an officer she was denied access to the unit by her neighbor when she was ready to retrieve them. This was because the neighbor accused her of stealing between $1,500 and $1,900 and a flashlight. She denied stealing any money and advised she was actually tasked with returning the flashlight to a local retailer. 

The complainant was advised the matter was civil in nature and she would need to take the neighbor to court in order to retrieve her items. 

While on scene the woman called the man, who requested her assistance with unloading his truck and they would meet later to possibly retrieve her belongings.

From victim to inmate

11:43 p.m., 2800 block of Leon Avenue

Disturbance: Officers were met with approximately a dozen people, most of whom were yelling at one another. Once they were able to separate the parties, it was determined the core argument was between four individuals. 

Two of them were arguing about one of them “messing around the house too much,” the report read without further specification regarding what “messing around” means. When a third individual attempted to de-escalate the situation, a fourth joined in before other bystanders became involved.

In the process of the investigation, one party made allegations that she was hit in the head from behind by an unknown object, and that one member of the group held a knife to her back and threatened to kill her. “It should be noted,” the report reads, “that (the alleged victim) was severely intoxicated and hysterical throughout.” She also presented no injuries that would back up her claim.

All witnesses to the event said no knife was brandished during the altercation.

As a bonus, the woman who claimed to be hit and threatened was confirmed to have three outstanding warrants for arrest in Sarasota County. She was arrested and transported to Sarasota County Jail within further incident.