HOLMES BEACH – A tip from a witness about a suspected drug deal on March 29 led to the arrest of a Bradenton man on multiple charges, including felony possession of cocaine with intent to sell.
The incident began at 11:36 p.m. when Holmes Beach Police Department (HBPD) Officer Andrew Adkins was dispatched to the 5300 block of Holmes Boulevard after a witness called dispatch, saying she saw a man sell cocaine to another person near a dumpster, according to the police report. The caller said she saw a white male with red dreadlocks wearing a black hoodie and baggy khaki pants selling drugs near a restaurant.
At the scene, Adkins recognized Robert Riddick, 35, of Bradenton, who was familiar to Adkins from previous interactions with the HBPD.
“Upon arrival, I turned from Gulf Drive on Holmes Boulevard northbound. I immediately saw Robert wearing a black hoodie and baggy khaki pants smoking near the front of Vinny’s Italian Kitchen and walking away from the CBD shop that Officer Christopher Liotti just pulled up by,” Adkins wrote in his report. “Robert looked at me, put his hood up over his head, and started walking towards the Freckled Fin Irish Pub (also in the 5337 Gulf Drive plaza). I stopped my vehicle and started walking up to Robert. Robert kept walking away from me and walked inside the Freckled Fin Irish Pub so I followed him. While walking behind Robert I could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from him. Inside the bar Robert stopped so I approached him. The odor of marijuana increased the closer I got to him. Due to this, I had Robert step outside. I knew that Robert’s medical marijuana status was suspended from a previous encounter and that he is also on pretrial release. Robert didn’t initially want to go with me and made comments asking about what he did and how he just got here.”
Adkins said Riddick eventually complied and stepped outside with him, where Riddick continued to deny smoking marijuana and said he had just arrived in the area and only smoked a cigarette. Adkins told Riddick that due to the strong odor of marijuana, he was going to search his pockets for illegal substances. Adkins reported finding a cigarette pack with a marijuana joint inside, as well as a phone wallet containing $111 in cash, six small baggies containing a white powder substance in his left cargo pant pocket and $228 in cash in his right pocket. A field test of the substance was positive for cocaine, which had a weight of 10.7 grams. Riddick was placed under arrest for felony possession of cocaine with intent to sell and violation of his pre-trial release on charges related to a March 12 arrest. He was also charged with possession of marijuana under 20 grams.
“I know based off of my training and experience, when items like that are used together it is indicative of illegal drug sales,” Adkins said. “Also, conditions of Robert’s pretrial release are not to violate any new laws, not take illegal drugs and no possession of prescription medication without a prescription.”
Riddick was taken to HBPD for processing, and after being read his Miranda warning, said he was not selling cocaine but did know his medical marijuana card was suspended, according to the report.
Once the paperwork was completed, Riddick was transported to the Manatee County Jail where he remains in custody on a $3,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear before Manatee County’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Teri K. Dees on Friday, May 24 at 9 a.m.
