HOLMES BEACH – Police responded to two separate bomb threats and a mass shooting threat at the White Sands Beach Resort, 6504 Gulf Drive, on Nov. 21.
“We’re doing everything we can to identify the suspect who called in the bomb threats,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said. “We do not believe there’s any danger to the public at this time.”
Tokajer said no explosives were located, no shooting occurred and, as of mid-day Saturday, a suspect had not been identified or apprehended.
Tokajer said the first bomb threat was received Friday morning with the second received between 4-5 p.m. that afternoon.
“We had two bomb threats yesterday from the same guy. He also did another one yesterday in North Carolina,” Tokajer said. “I have a meeting set up with ATF (the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) on Monday. They’re going to come down and we’re going to try to identify him through the phone calls and take legal action. We have the name he gave us but we don’t know if that’s an accurate name.
The caller said he placed explosives near the White Sands Beach Resort swimming pool. – White Sands Beach Resort | Submitted
“In the morning, the guy said he placed some explosives near the fence at the pool. We think he knows so much about the resort because of the livestream they do from there. In the afternoon, he said he buried some explosives in the sand. We had the Manatee County bomb dog come out in the afternoon to make sure there were no buried explosive devices,” Tokajer said.
No explosives were found at the White Sands Beach Resort. – White Sands Beach Resort | Submitted
“We had to cordon off the area and there’s a lot that goes into responding to a bomb threat that seems like it could be credible. We stopped all traffic because he said he was coming in a silver truck and he would shoot a lot of people. We were prepared for someone coming in a silver truck to detonate a bomb and/or become an active shooter. We have to take those things seriously until we can determine it’s not a threat,” Tokajer said.
Both police responses resulted in temporary road closures and traffic delays in the vicinity of the resort.
HOLMES BEACH – Sarasota resident James Mikluscak was arrested on multiple charges after allegedly driving another man’s Jeep into the water near the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue.
According to the offense/incident report filed by Holmes Beach Police Officer Andrew Adkins, Mikluscak was arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, DUI with damage to the property or person of another, reckless driving with damage to a person or property, obstruction without violence, a felony charge of grand theft of an automobile and a felony charge of failure to obey a law enforcement officer’s order to stop.
The incident report states that on March 30 at approximately 1:59 a.m., Adkins was assisting Sgt. Joshua Betts with a bicycle stop in the 700 block of Manatee Avenue and they noticed a vehicle driving up and down, back and forth and doing circles along the embankment on the north side of Manatee Avenue, on the 900 block, near the base of the bridge.
In his report, Adkins stated, “I left Sgt. Betts and drove my marked patrol vehicle to where this vehicle, a 2014 black Jeep Wrangler (with a Florida license plate) was driving. This area is closed to vehicle traffic and only open for pedestrians. The vehicle was driving westbound but up the embankment at an angle towards me. I pulled up on the sidewalk facing the vehicle and activated my emergency lights and a Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputy did the same. I exited my vehicle and shined my flashlight at the driver, identified as James Mikluscak, and told him to stop. I did not see anyone else in the vehicle.
“I was able to get a good look at James and he was gripping the steering wheel and his eyes were fixated straight ahead. James did not stop and kept driving along the embankment and then turned north, right, towards the mangrove. James then drove directly into the mangrove and accelerated through them, propelling himself into the water of Anna Maria Sound. James continued driving until the vehicle was stuck due to it becoming submerged about 10 to 20 feet off the shore,” Adkins stated in the report.
“I ran down the embankment to an opening in the mangrove and saw James, about 10-20 feet away from me, exit the vehicle. I commanded James to stop and come to me but he defied, running further into the water. I noticed James’ vehicle was submerged to about the top of the wheels.
“I requested dispatch contact the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and send additional assets for assistance. As James was running away from me, he turned toward me, while looking at me, and lifted something black and reflective up above the water and was holding it with both hands. The deputy with me and I both perceived this item to be a weapon of some kind. I drew my sidearm and pointed it towards James and began retreating to cover. I then advised dispatch that James may be armed and dangerous.
“Three Bradenton Beach Police Officers and several Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene. I retreated to my vehicle, repositioned it toward the opening in the mangrove, and turned on my scene lighting to illuminate James. I then retrieved my patrol rifle and positioned myself behind the cover of a patrol vehicle engine and pointed the weapon at James as he continued to go further out. It was later believed that the perceived weapon may have been a cell phone but one was never recovered.
“Once Sgt. Betts left to meet with the USCG at Station Cortez, I took over voice commands with a loudspeaker. I told James numerous times that we are the police, he is under arrest and that he needs to surrender himself immediately. James did not comply and continued moving further away in the water, up to shoulder deep, and began clinging to a channel marker. I made sure Sgt. Betts was kept informed with James’ position as he was responding with the USCG on their response boat.
“Upon arrival of the USCG in their marked boat with emergency lights, James defied their commands to surrender and kept swimming away for them. This went on for an extended period of time. Due to this, Sgt. Betts directed me to respond out in the water with the HBPD Marine Unit.
“I, along with two Bradenton Beach Police Officers, took the marked police boat with emergency lights to the scene. Upon arrival James was a couple hundred yards north of the original incident location. We pulled up alongside him and gave commands for him to surrender. James did not initially comply but after a few attempts to approach him, he raised his hands up, didn’t move, and we were able to grab him and pull him into the boat, placing him under arrest. James was in the water for about an hour and ten minutes.
“I then transported James to the Kingfish boat ramp, 752 Manatee Ave., where he was turned over to Manatee County EMS and then they transported him to HCA Florida Blake Hospital for possible hypothermia and medical clearance. Officer Gagliano rode with EMS and I followed behind. I heard EMS make comments about James being on drugs,” Adkins stated in this report.
“Once James was transferred to a hospital bed, I got permission from the staff to talk with him. I advised him of his Miranda Warning and he agreed to speak with me. I noticed James was very obviously experiencing the effects of drug use based on my training and experience.
“While at the hospital I also heard the staff mention several different times that James is high on drugs. I asked James if he was on any drugs and he told me he was on ‘ice.’ I asked what that is and he stated a ‘potent meth.’ When I tried to ask James about the incident, he couldn’t remember what happened. I asked James if what happened tonight was because he was on meth and he nodded yes. I asked James about driving while impaired by the meth and he told me he wasn’t driving.
The report notes Mikluscak declined to give a blood sample for testing purposes.
“I contacted HBPD’s Drug Recognition Expert, Officer (Alex) Hurt, and advised him of the situation. Officer Hurt remained with James while I returned to HBPD to complete the arrest paperwork. Sgt. Betts informed me that the owner of the Jeep, Gregory Dobkins, did not give permission to James to operate the vehicle and filed it as stolen with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office,” the report states.
“As a result, I charged James with reckless driving with property damage, DUI with property damage, fleeing to elude/failure to obey, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage, resisting an officer without violence, and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
“I was informed that James was being admitted at the hospital for 24 hours to be monitored so I took the completed paperwork and his property (and) clothing to the Manatee County Jail to get him booked in.
“While James was in our custody, he stated the vehicle belonged to a friend or roommate where he is staying temporarily in Sarasota. Later on in the day, when I came back into work, I spoke with Gregory over the phone. Gregory informed me that he did allow James to drive the Jeep earlier in the day with him but once they got back to the (Sarasota) address he was no longer authorized to drive it.
“I was told that address is a home for recovering addicts. Gregory stated James left the house with a girlfriend after a meeting but returned later in the night very high. Gregory stated while he was now asleep, James took the Jeep keys and then stole the vehicle,” the report states.
As of April 1, Mikluscak remained in custody at the Manatee County Jail in Palmetto.
HOLMES BEACH – After impacts from two hurricanes, the city of Holmes Beach was left with a disaster, including limited utilities, enforcement of a curfew and trying to keep the city safe for residents. Over the past few weeks, Holmes Beach police officers have received a helping hand from other Florida police departments, allowing officers time to take care of their own homes and families while also continuing to serve the Anna Maria Island community. Tokajer said Panama City Police Chief Mark Smith organized an entire contingent of officers who came down from the Florida panhandle to help HBPD officers. Those officers were joined by officers from the Miami area.
Tokajer thanked the officers who came to assist the HBPD, noting that due to the help from other law enforcement officials, his officers were able to take care of their own families and the community was kept safe. He said there were no instances of looting in the city in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Assisting officers came from:
Panama City Police Department
Panama City Beach Police Department
Gulf Breeze Police Department
Fort Walton Beach Police Department
Pensacola Police Department
Port St. Joe Police Department
Aventura Police Department
Miami-Dade Police Department
Pinecrest Police Department
Coral Gables Police Department
Bradenton Police Department
Palmetto Police Department
New College Police Department
Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority Police Department
Please note that this article contains elements that could potentially be disturbing or triggering to some individuals.
UPDATED: Thursday, Oct. 31, 5:30 p.m.
On Thursday, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer issued a statement regarding the state attorney’s office reviewing the police body camera and dash camera footage of the Sept. 10 arrest and tasing of an autistic man, Francisco Diaz, and the arrest of his father, Orlando Diaz.
“The tape was reviewed by State Attorney Ed Brodsky, and by Cynthia Evers and Dawn Buff, also with the state attorney’s office, who all said the charges were appropriate and the officers appeared to act within policy,” Tokajer stated.
The Sun then contacted Brodsky to confirm Tokajer’s statement. After noting that he cannot speak in great detail regarding a pending case, or cases, Brodsky said, “We determined the actions of the officers were appropriate.”
Speaking in general terms, not specific to any case, Brodsky said, “Typically what happens with a case is law enforcement’s report comes into us with the charges they’ve referred to us. We’ll review those charges then the prosecutor will make a filing decision as to whether to go forward on those charges.”
According to Manatee County court records, the charges filed by the prosecutor currently match the five charges recommended by the Holmes Beach Police Department for Francisco Diaz (including battery on a law enforcement officer) and the two charges recommended for his father, Orlando Diaz (including resisting, obstructing or opposing an officer without violence).
When asked if a person’s medical condition or other mitigating factors factor into a prosecutor’s decision-making when filing a charge, Brodsky said, “In every circumstance, we’re always going to consider all the facts and circumstances and that’s a factor in deciding the charge, whether to charge it, how to charge it and how you ultimately seek to resolve a case.”
(See the original Oct. 29 story below)
HOLMES BEACH – On Sept. 10, Holmes Beach Police Off. Christopher Liotti arrested 72-year-old Bradenton resident Orlando Diaz for driving with a suspended driver’s license. His 30-year-old autistic son, Francisco Diaz, tried to intervene and was later tased and arrested for alleged battery on a law enforcement officer.
Before the local media could get to this story – in part due to two consecutive hurricanes striking Anna Maria Island – a Telemundo news report and another news report from the London-based Daily Mail were shared on Facebook and local, national and international outrage quickly ensued.
On Oct. 28, The Sun spoke with Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer about the arrests and the tasing as he reviewed the officers’ body camera videos again.
Later that day, The Sun spoke with Francisco’s Bradenton-based attorney, C.J. Czaia. The Sun also conducted its own review of the 16 body camera videos Tokajer provided.
The arrests
According to the significant incident report filed by Sgt. Joshua Betts, at approximately 10 p.m. that night the police department’s camera-based license place recognition system issued an alert regarding a vehicle traveling through the city potentially being driven by someone with a suspended driver’s license. Liotti then conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Orlando Diaz, in the plaza parking lot in front of the Dollar Tree store at 3260 East Bay Drive.
Officer Christopher Liotti spoke with Orlando and Francisco Diaz before the chaos ensued. – HBPD | Submitted
According to Liotti’s body camera footage, he then approached the driver’s side of the car. He asked Orlando Diaz to step out of the car, where he was going and whether he spoke English.
“A little,” he responded, noting he was driving someone in the vehicle for work purposes.
Liotti asked if anyone in the car spoke English. Francisco Diaz then exited the passenger door and walked around the front of the car to assist his father.
When Liotti asked Francisco Diaz if he spoke English, he said, “A little.”
Can you ask him if he’s been to court for his driver’s license issues? I already know the answer,” Liotti said.
Orlando Diaz acknowledged he had been to court for the driver’s license suspension.
“Was he found guilty?” Liotti asked.
Diaz acknowledged he had been found guilty.
When Liotti asked Diaz why he had not had his driver’s license renewed for more than 20 years, Francisco’s response was inaudible.
“So, he knows that he’s not supposed to be driving?” Liotti said.
“That’s why he cannot renew,” Francisco Diaz said.
“Has he ever been arrested for this?” Liotti asked.
Orlando Diaz shook his head, indicating he had not.
“Okay. Tell him he’s being arrested today,” Liotti said. “You’ve had multiple chances. You’ve been found guilty three times. You’re going to be arrested today. Turn around and place your hands behind your back.”
“But sir, he has work,” Orlando Diaz said in an apparent reference to his son, who was the only male passenger in the car. Francisco Diaz’ mother also was in the car.
As the tension rose and Orlando Diaz began to verbally protest the arrest, Liotti repeatedly asked Francisco Diaz to ask his father not to make the arrest any more difficult.
The mother then joined the conversation pleading for her husband’s release before returning to the car as directed.
When Liotti placed the first handcuff on Orlando Diaz’ wrist, the man began screaming and wailing.
At that point Franscisco Diaz came toward Liotti and tried to free his father from the officer’s grasp, making contact with Liotti in the process. The mother restrained Francisco and led him back to the car. Liotti then swept Orlando Diaz to the pavement, turned him on his stomach and placed him in handcuffs.
Diaz remained handcuffed on the pavement for several minutes, continuing to loudly scream and cry as he lay there despite no further physical contact. He was not tased and he did not appear to be physically harmed.
With the assistance of another officer, Diaz was brought to his feet and led toward one of the police vehicles to be placed in the back seat.
Liotti then asked Off. Alex Hurt to handcuff Francisco Diaz, cautioning that “he’s going to fight.”
The probable cause affidavit filed by Liotti states, “The defendant had to be physically removed from the vehicle, at which time he began to resist and struggle with officers, eventually striking an officer in the face.”
Francisco Diaz was tased by Officer Alex Hurt, center, with assistance from Officer Christopher Liotti. – HBPD | Submitted
According to Liotti’s body camera video, Liotti’s dash camera video and Hurt’s 25-second body camera video, Hurt asked Francisco Diaz to step out of the car and turn around. Diaz stepped out of the car and asked “Why?” three times without turning around. Hurt then grabbed Diaz’ left arm and took him to the ground using an arm bar takedown before attempting to handcuff him. During the ensuing struggle, which Liotti joined, Hurt was struck in the face, which Tokajer later said may have been unintentional due to Diaz’ autistic state.
According to Tokajer, Hurt’s body camera stopped working before he tased Diaz. A second 17-minute Hurt’s body camera video shows him later interacting with witnesses and asking them to share copies of their cell phone video footage, to be used as additional evidence.
As the struggle continued, with Francisco Diaz laying on his back, screaming and resisting, Liotti said, “You’re gonna get tased. You’re gonna get tased. Turn around or you’re gonna get tased. Turn over now. Turn around or you’re gonna get tased.”
Using a handheld Taser Stun Drive device that does not utilize probes, Hurt then discharged the Taser approximately 11 times, with some of those discharges apparently not making full contact with Francisco Diaz as he screamed and rolled on the ground, at one point yelling, “That’s no fair.”
After several directives to put his hands behind his back, Diaz said, “Okay,” and complied with the officer’s command.
Francisco Diaz’ mother then approached Liotti and repeatedly said, “Mi hijo has autismo (my son has autism),” as Liotti told her to go back to the car. That was the first time the officers were told he had autism.
After being handcuffed, Francisco Diaz compliantly walked toward a police vehicle and was placed in the back seat.
Liotti also checked on the father, who had been lying on the ground apparently unconscious, but breathing and with a pulse, near the rear door of the police vehicle he resisted getting into.
Sgt. Betts’ body camera footage shows Orlando Diaz slowly collapsing to the ground after he resisted being placed in the police vehicle. Calls were issued for medical assistance and Manatee County EMS and West Manatee Fire Rescue quickly responded.
When one of the paramedics asked Francisco Diaz if he needed medical attention, he said “No, I’m good.”
When speaking to Francisco Diaz a short time later, Liotti said, “Just to let you know, when you tried to fight with us, that’s against the law.”
“That’s my parents. The police always trap everybody like us,” Francisco Diaz replied.
“Your father has been found guilty for driving without a driver’s license. He’s got too many charges, which is why he’s going to be placed in jail,” Liotti said.
“My parents come first man,” Francisco Diaz replied.
“I understand that you want to defend your father and your parents, but you went about it the wrong way. You cannot put your hands on a police officer, which is why you’re now going to jail tonight,” Liotti said.
With the assistance of a Spanish-speaking bystander, Liotti explained to the mother what was happening.
“Her husband is going to jail for the driving violations. Her son is going to jail for striking me,” he said.
“He’s autismo,” the mother said.
“It doesn’t matter. He knows what he was doing,” Liotti said, noting Francisco Diaz cursed at him and tried to fight him. “That’s why he’s going to jail.”
When the mother said Francisco Diaz was trying to protect his father, Liotti said, “That doesn’t make it okay.”
Orlando Diaz was placed on a gurney and transported to the hospital for examination before being transported to the Manatee County Jail. According to Tokajer, Francisco Diaz was also taken to the hospital and examined before being transported to the county jail.
As these chaotic scenes unfolded in the plaza parking lot, several spectators videotaped the incident on their phones. The officers never asked them to stop.
The following day bail was posted for Orlando. He was released on two bonds totaling $3,000 for driving with a license canceled, suspended or revoked after prior conviction and resisting, obstructing or opposing an officer without violence.
Orlando Diaz
According to court records, Orlando Diaz has received at least five citations for driving with a suspended or expired driver’s license since 2018, including one in Holmes Beach that year.
Francisco Diaz
Francisco Diaz remained in jail until Oct. 3 or 4, when he was released on five $10,000 bonds totaling $50,000. He is currently charged with two third degree felony counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, two third degree felony counts of resisting an officer with violence and one first degree misdemeanor count of resisting an officer without violence. According to court records, this is Francisco Diaz’ first arrest in Manatee County.
Chief’s response
While reviewing the most significant body camera footage with The Sun on Oct. 28, Tokajer addressed the events of Sept. 10.
He began by saying he incorrectly told a Telemundo reporter that Francisco Diaz attempted to kick the officer when he first exited the family’s car. Tokajer said Diaz did not attempt to kick an officer and that was something he confused with another arrest that happened within that same week.
When reviewing Liotti’s body camera footage, Tokajer noted Francisco Diaz was calm and helpful until the first handcuff was placed on his father.
“The officer was making a lawful arrest of the father, then the son pushed the officer and interfered with the lawful arrest,” Tokajer said, noting Orlando Diaz was not injured while being taken to the ground and handcuffed.
When watching the footage of Francisco Diaz getting tased, Tokajer said, “As soon as they got his hands behind his back, they de-escalated the situation.”
He also noted the man’s autism was not mentioned until the tasing occurred.
“Had the family, at the beginning of the interaction, told the officer their son was autistic, things might have gone differently. The officers had no knowledge that he was autistic. What got him agitated was his mom and dad screaming and getting agitated. That is what triggered his reaction,” Tokajer, said, based on his recent conversations with an autism specialist.
Tokajer said his officers will now receive training on how to recognize autism and interact with autistic people.
When asked if it’s standard procedure to arrest someone for driving with a suspended or expired license, Tokajer said, “It’s at the officer’s discretion. The officer was able to look up the driver’s record and see that he had several citations for driving with his license suspended. Giving him a ticket was not getting the desired effect of getting him to comply to go get his license. I think he was justified in doing so. And keep in mind, he’s been driving on a suspended license for over 20 years. And if you don’t have a driver’s license, the chances are you’re also not insured.”
When asked if he feels Francisco Diaz’ arrest was justified, Tokajer said, “The son interfered with a lawful arrest. Had the officers been aware that he had autism they might have looked at it differently, but that was not told to them until after they made contact with him.”
When asked if he feels Francisco Diaz’ tasing was justified, Tokajer said, “The drive stun is a useful tool to get compliance. The officers did not strike him. They did not kick him. They were merely trying to get him to comply so they could affect the arrest.”
“Although the optics with the drive stun seems to some to be wrong, it is a tool that’s used to lessen the chance of injury to the arrestee rather than using physical force such as strikes, blows, kicks, a baton or pepper spray. And the officers’ firearms were never in play,” Tokajer said.
He noted there was one Holmes Beach tasing in 2020, none in 2021 and one each in 2022 and 2023.
“That’s not a pattern of abuse,” he added.
Tokajer said there is currently no formal internal or external investigation taking place, but Lt. Brian Hall is conducting an extensive review of the officers’ body cameras, dashboard cameras and in-car cameras. The three officers remain on active duty pending the results of Hall’s video review.
When asked if Francisco’s charges might be reduced because of his autism, Tokajer said, “We do the initial charges and then it’s up to the state attorney’s office to review it to see if that’s a mitigating factor that warrants a lesser charge or no charge. That is not something we will oppose.”
Attorney’s response
When contacted late Monday afternoon, attorney C.J. Czaia noted he is representing Francisco Diaz but he is not representing his father.
Czaia said he watched the video footage broadcast by Telemundo and some of the phone videos taken shot by bystanders, but he had not yet obtained or viewed the police officers’ body camera and dashboard camera footage.
Attorney C.J. Czaia is representing Francisco Diaz. – CzaiaLaw.com | Submitted
Czaia acknowledged the incident would not have happened in the first place had Orlando Diaz not been driving with a suspended license, but he questions why the two men were arrested, why Francisco Diaz was tased, and why it took so long to get him out of jail.
“When people ask me if someone’s guilty, I say I don’t know until I work the case and look at everything, including why the stop occurred and why the officer was upset. If the kid did commit a crime, did the officers overdo it? Right now, I don’t know,” Czaia said.
“Until we look at all the evidence and depose the officers, it’s very hard to judge what really happened. But this kid was in jail for three weeks and could not get a hearing to get a bond reduction or explain his situation. That I do know for a fact. And I do think there’s a problem with how law enforcement handles people with autism and Aspergers,” he added.
“The big question to me, regarding Francisco’s autism, is why do you have to put this young man in a jail full of bad people? I really have an issue with that. This kid was in jail for three weeks,” Czaia said.
Czaia said a “good Samaritan” who has a family member, or family members, with autism, put up Francisco Diaz’ bail bond money.
Regarding the intense scrutiny this case has already generated on social media, Czaia said, “The Latin community is up in arms. They’re upset, and maybe it has to do with what’s happening around us on TV and the politics of the moment. This is a very sensitive time for this community and the optics don’t look good. The father is a mild-mannered man. He’s not a threat to anybody and his family can’t function without him.”
Regarding Orlando Diaz’ arrest, Czaia said, “It’s at their discretion if the stop is legal and legitimate. He’s not a criminal and in 15 other states, undocumented people have the right to get a driver’s license. This state is not one of them, and I often tell people to go to a state where you can drive legally because you have to drive. I don’t represent his dad, but Francisco has DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status and if they convict him that could affect his status here,” Czaia said.
Czaia said he’s known and respected Tokajer for a long time.
“I have fond memories of him working at the Bradenton Police Department and I told the family and Telemundo that he’s a straight-up guy,” Czaia said.
Czaia said he would have more to say about the case once he’s reviewed the police department videos and has a better understanding of what actually happened.
Please note that the videos linked below contain content that could be disturbing or triggering for some individuals and should be watched at your own discretion. Videos have been edited for length and file size. Due to size, all videos link to Facebook.
HOLMES BEACH – A high-speed chase ended with a suspect being trapped in chain link fencing on a Gulf Drive tennis court, resulting in six criminal charges.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said the Aug. 21 incident began when suspect Dominic Garcia, 24, allegedly stole a vehicle in Palmetto before going to a Bradenton residence where he is suspected of beating a woman before leaving and making a wrong turn on Manatee Avenue that took him to Anna Maria Island.
“He was trying to go to Melbourne,” Tokajer said.
Garcia
In Holmes Beach, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Brett Getman spotted the stolen black Ford Expedition and got behind Garcia. That’s when Tokajer said Garcia hit the gas, getting up to an estimated 80 mph before missing a curve on Gulf Drive that sent the vehicle straight into a picket fence and two chain link fences, one of which wrapped around the front end of the vehicle, stopping it on a tennis court at the Martinique condominium complex.
Tokajer said no injuries were reported.
Garcia is charged with domestic battery, battery on a person 65 years of age or older, operation of a motor vehicle without a valid license, two counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He was placed in custody at the Manatee County Jail.
MANATEE COUNTY – There’s a new problem in Manatee County, and it has nothing to do with oppressive heat or storm threats. According to government officials from all three Island cities, as well as county officials, abandoned and stolen gun cases are on the rise.
Since a law change in 2023, Florida residents who once had to obtain a concealed carry permit and complete safety training and a background check to carry a loaded firearm on their body or in their car no longer need to do anything more than have a valid ID to be legal. While the jury is still out on whether this has had a positive or negative effect on gun-related issues, one thing is clear – guns are coming up missing.
The issue is becoming such a problem that the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has placed lighted signs around the county that warn motorists to lock their cars and secure all firearms.
“Our digital mobile road signs are strategically positioned around the county, often displaying messages about locking your car and not leaving firearms inside,” MCSO Public Information Officer Randy Warren said in an email to The Sun. “These signs serve as a reminder to be smart and reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Burglars know that people make the mistake of forgetting or being careless almost every night. They are aware that this is the easiest way to acquire a free gun, as these criminals rarely obtain them legally. They also know that if they check enough door handles, they will find what they are looking for.”
Warren said that so far this year they had received 71 reports of firearms being stolen from unlocked vehicles. He did not have the stats for the city of Anna Maria, which is patrolled by MCSO, at the time of this story.
In Bradenton Beach, Lt. Lenard Diaz said they had one gun stolen from a vehicle in 2023 but none reported this year.
“We have more of an issue with people renting condos and leaving their guns behind,” Diaz said. “As a matter of fact, we have a person coming back in a month to get her gun because she left it at an Airbnb.”
Diaz said the guns are usually found by cleaning staff. They notify their supervisor, who then contacts the police. Police officers pick up the gun, run the serial number, and, if legal, contact the owner. The one thing none of the Island police departments will do is ship the guns back to the owners, even if they are presumed legal. The reason for this is that owners must show proper identification and proof of ownership to prevent the chance of the lost guns eventually falling into the wrong hands. Diaz said it’s simply a necessary safety precaution that offers no exceptions. Lost guns are put into a secure evidence locker and gun owners are given 90 days to pick up the gun, or, if they live far away, Diaz said he will give them up to a year if he is confident they will return to get the gun.
In Holmes Beach, Police Chief Bill Tokajer says his department has the same issue.
“We haven’t really seen the problem with gun thefts from cars that places like Tampa and even the county are seeing,” Tokajer said. “What we have a problem with is people leaving them in rental units.”
Like Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach police will not ship lost firearms for the same reasons. Gun owners must return to the city and claim their property with proper ID.
It should be noted that while leaving a firearm unsecured in a vehicle or left behind in a rental unit is not a crime, it is an opportunity for a legally purchased and owned gun to get into the hands of someone who may have very different intentions for its use. Law enforcement from all agencies contacted by The Sun ask that everyone legally carrying a firearm lock their car and always be aware of who has access to their guns. Doing so will make for a safer Island.
ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth are not on the same page when it comes to the potential consolidation of law enforcement services, with each mayor preferring their city’s law enforcement agency take over policing in both cities.
As is the case in most cities, law enforcement on Anna Maria Island is the most expensive public service provided to residents, visitors and businesses. With the looming threat of state-imposed consolidation facing the three Island cities, the three Island mayors continue to look for cost-cutting measures that would save taxpayers’ dollars and potentially appease state legislators who requested the consolidation study being conducted by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA).
Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have their own police depart ments and police chiefs. Anna Maria does not, and instead contracts law enforcement services from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). Led by Sgt. Brett Getman, with additional supervision provided by Lt. John Belt, the MCSO Anna Maria Unit is headquartered in the former city annex building on Pine Avenue.
On April 23, Titsworth met with State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. to discuss consolidation and the concerns associated with that state-imposed scenario. Titsworth then told The Sun that she and Police Chief Bill Tokajer were in preliminary talks with Murphy about the Holmes Beach Police Department taking over law enforcement in Anna Maria.
Titsworth told The Sun the two cities would research the financial numbers associated with the potential consolidation of law enforcement services, and also the potential drafting of an interlocal agreement between the two cities.
Mayor Dan Murphy supports the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office providing primary law enforcement services to all three Island cities. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy addressed then these matters during the May 9 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.
“The article said Mayor Titsworth and I were working together on looking at having Holmes Beach provide police services for the city of Anna Maria and that we were preparing an interlocal agreement to do just that. That’s not the case,” Murphy said.
“Mayor Titsworth and I had a phone conversation shortly after she met with Representative Robinson. I said the elephant in the room is public safety. We’re operating with three separate police forces,” Murphy said.
Murphy noted Anna Maria is paying $1.3 million for contracted MCSO law enforcement services for the current 2023-24 fiscal year, the lowest of the three Island cities.
For the current fiscal year, Holmes Beach budgeted $4.63 million for its police department and Bradenton Beach budgeted $1.77 million. Combined, the three cities budgeted $7.7 million for law enforcement.
“If you really wanted to save the taxpayers’ money, which has always been the caveat in consolidating, that’s what should be looked at,” Murphy said.
Murphy said Titsworth did tell him that she would look into Holmes Beach providing police services to Anna Maria, but he favors a different approach – eliminating the Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach police departments and contracting the sheriff’s office to provide Island-wide law enforcement services.
“I’m very pleased with the services the sheriff is providing us. We have far more scope of services with the sheriff’s department than we could ever have with an Island-wide police force,” Murphy said, noting the sheriff’s office has a helicopter, K-9 officers, detectives, marine patrol officers and more.
“The array of services are almost endless from a public safety standpoint and they’re economical. To me, that would be significant savings,” Murphy said.
When contacted by The Sun the following day, Titsworth confirmed that she and Murphy discussed the two cities sharing a police force.
She then noted Holmes Beach has mutual aid agreements with the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies in Manatee County regarding the sharing of technology, equipment and services. She also said the sheriff’s office provides Holmes Beach with additional assistance during high-volume holiday weekends.
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.
Robert Riddick
“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.
HOLMES BEACH – Shots were fired, but who fired them and exactly where they were fired remains a mystery after all of the Island’s three police departments participated in the search for the shooter.
The incident began on Feb. 10 at 10:03 p.m. when Holmes Beach Police Department (HBPD) Officer Chris Bennett was getting into his patrol car at the HBPD station and heard two gunshots coming from the south nearby. Bennett advised dispatch of the shots and requested that Officer Ryan Welch respond to the area, believing the shots came from the area of the Waterline Hotel, 5325 Marina Drive, or the area of 5200 Gulf Drive.
While searching around the Waterline, Bennett spoke with a bystander who said she had not heard the shots, and he found no physical evidence of the shots coming from that area. At the same time, Welch was checking the parking lot in the area of D Coy Ducks bar across the street. An employee of the bar told Welch he had also heard the shots, and thought they had come from the area near Hurricane Hanks restaurant, 5410 Marina Drive, possibly behind the building on the 52nd Street side of the business.
Shortly after, HBPD dispatch got a call from a concerned citizen in the area of 46th Street who also heard the shots nearby, but couldn’t provide an exact location.
Officers Bennett and Welch went on foot to check the beach access parking lot at 100 52nd St.
“While checking the parking lot, we heard two additional gunshots very close to our south,” Bennett said in his official report. “They were possibly coming from the 50th Street beach access area.”
Officers from the Bradenton Beach Police Department (BBPD) and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) arrived at the scene to assist in the search.
“I deployed my agency-issued AR-15 rifle, and Officer Welch deployed his agency-issued shotgun,” Bennett said in his report. “Along with the aforementioned law enforcement officers from neighboring agencies, conducted a thorough check until approximately 10:45 p.m. of the area between 47th Street and 52nd Street while on foot.”
An MCSO helicopter was requested but was not available to assist at the time. After an extensive ground search, no suspect could be located by officers. There were no gunshot wound victims that night, and no related property damage was reported. Anyone with information on the incident should contact the Holmes Beach Police Department.
HOLMES BEACH – Excessive speed in school zones is a serious safety issue that can be addressed by cameras, according to a recent Manatee County Commission vote.
Cameras will be installed at some Manatee County schools, possibly including Anna Maria Elementary School (AME).
The vote was unanimous to move forward with installation and monitoring of the speed zones. A 6-1 majority approved an agreement with the vendor, RedSpeed, to furnish, install and maintain the speed detection system, comply with FDOT placement and installation specifications and assist Manatee County Public Safety in the public announcement and awareness campaign according to a press release from Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan.
The lone dissenting vote came from Commissioner George Kruse.
“There will be warning signs up for about two weeks prior to them being turned on, so drivers will have ample opportunity to be notified the cameras will be in effect,” District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “And even once the cameras are in place and active, there will still be warning signs that they are active.”
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that his department supports the installation of the cameras if the county includes AME in the project.
“We had a speed study done two weeks ago from a different vendor than the county uses to see what it would be in our area,” Tokajer said. “During the five-day period, there were almost 1,300 violations.”
Tokajer said they are waiting to see if the county is doing this in the entirety of the county, or if the cities are going to make their own decisions. He said he has not yet been informed by the county about the issue, and his department has not been included in the conversation.
Tokajer said that while his department supports the installation of the cameras, saying it will increase driver awareness of the seriousness of speeding in school zones, it will not affect his placement of officers on Gulf Drive in front of the school during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times.
The move comes after the Florida Legislature passed Florida House Bill 657 last April, which authorizes counties to enforce speed limits in school zones using speed detection systems. Drivers traveling more than 10 mph over the posted school zone speed limit during designated hours would receive a $100 ticket in the mail. The speed camera zones would be active only at times when kids are heading to and from school.
HOLMES BEACH – There’s good news for residents and visitors to Anna Maria Island’s largest city. Police Chief Bill Tokajer says serious crime has been dramatically reduced over the past decade.
In an email to commissioners and the mayor, Tokajer said that serious crime has been reduced 77.9% since its peak in 2012. Serious crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.
In 2012, the HBPD reported 154 serious crimes, also known as uniform crime reporting. In 2023, that number had dropped to 34. Last year, officers reported six instances of aggravated assault, eight burglaries, 18 larcenies and two vehicle thefts. Since the peak in 2012, instances of those crimes have steadily been on the decline.
Arrests in the city also went down in 2023 to 169 adults and 12 juveniles. Since 2016, arrests have also been on the downswing with a peak of 385 adult and 30 juvenile arrests recorded that year.
In 2023, officers responded to 13,185 calls for service, up from 12,082 the previous year. Officers responded to 96 noise complaints, 84 of which were deemed to be unfounded, completed 141 weekly house checks, wrote 4,051 parking tickets, issued 984 traffic citations and 718 written warnings, worked 90 traffic accidents and completed 145 traffic stops with the help of the city’s license plate reader cameras. HBPD officers also assisted other agencies with issues 785 times in 2023.
HOLMES BEACH – There were holiday songs, free food, prizes galore, a 100-foot-long bounce house, police, fire trucks and much more at the Sleigh Bell Social on Dec. 14 at City Field.
Previously, the event was known as National Night Out, a collaboration between the city’s police and code compliance departments to foster relations between the community and local law enforcement. The event ended after the 2019 gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everybody from the city is involved, all the different departments were involved and everybody helped out,” Police Chief Bill Tokajer said. “None of this was paid for by the city, there were no tax dollars whatsoever. This was all made possible by donations from our local businesses. We’ve had a huge response from city businesses that have been great for us.”
Tokajer said they were able to give away more than 70 bicycles at the event thanks to donations from the community. There were hundreds of toys given out, along with food from local restaurants, making this an event that brightened the holidays for a number of families. The Sun was one of the event sponsors.
Tokajer also said the event will continue for years to come and he expects it to get bigger and better every year.
HOLMES BEACH – A routine check on a vehicle at the 52nd Street beach access turned into an arrest for possession of marijuana, felony grand theft of a firearm and other charges for one suspect.
Officer Christopher Liotti was on routine patrol on Nov. 27 in the 100 block of 52nd Street when he saw a silver Chevrolet Malibu parked with its lights on and engine running at the public beach access. As he approached the driver’s side, the front window rolled and he noticed what he described as a substantial cloud of smoke with the unmistakable odor of marijuana.
Liotti made contact with the driver and two juvenile passengers in the back seat. Due to their age, those involved in the incident were not named, but are referred to as juvenile #1 and juvenile #2 in Liotti’s official report. The driver was ordered to exit the vehicle, handcuffed and placed into temporary custody as Liotti awaited back-up officers. A pat-down did not reveal any illegal drugs or weapons on juvenile #1, who was also cuffed and removed from the vehicle.
This was not the case for juvenile #2.
“During the pat-down of juvenile #2, a large bulge resembling the handle of a firearm was felt outside his right front pants pocket. In an attempt to conceal the item, he tensed his body and pressed against the vehicle,” Liotti wrote in his report. “Upon further inspection, a black handgun loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition was discovered in his pocket. The firearm was handed over to Officer Michael McNamee and the serial number was provided to Holmes Beach police dispatch for an NCIC/FCIC check. Positive results indicated that the firearm was reported stolen from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.”
After the three suspects were put into separate patrol vehicles, a search of the vehicle was conducted, yielding a glass pipe, 36 vape pens, a marijuana joint and a large blue container filled with what was later identified as a large quantity of marijuana where the second underage person was seated. There was also a Crown Royal bag containing marijuana, a digital scale, a marijuana grinder and four partial 12 packs of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. Officers contacted the first juvenile’s parents while the second agreed to voluntarily speak to Liotti after being read his Miranda rights.
“He claimed that the firearm was not his, but rather, he was holding it for a friend. He stated that he received the gun a few days ago and offered no specific reason for possessing it, denying any purchase or trade involvement to obtain it,” Liotti wrote in his report. “He asserted carrying it merely because he liked it. He was also informed that the gun was reported as stolen and denied any involvement in the theft. Regarding the narcotics in the vehicle, juvenile #2, post-Miranda, admitted ownership, emphasizing personal use and denial of any intent to sell. He claimed ownership of the scale, indicating a personal interest in tracking marijuana quantity.”
The second juvenile suspect was charged with possession of marijuana over 20 grams and felony grand theft of a firearm. Due to his age, details of his bail and court date are not publicly available.
According to police, the first juvenile also was read his Miranda rights and acknowledged the presence of marijuana in the car but denied knowledge of the firearm. He said their purpose was solely to smoke marijuana. Juvenile #1 received a citation for the possession of marijuana less than 20 grams.
The driver, upon being read his Miranda rights, acknowledged the presence of marijuana in the car but denied knowledge of the firearm. He claimed their intent was only to smoke. The driver, who is listed in the report as under 21 years old, received a citation for the possession of multiple containers of alcohol located in the vehicle.
A field test of the suspected marijuana onsite yielded positive results.
After the evidence was gathered, the parents of both juvenile backseat passengers arrived at the scene. Juvenile #1 was released to the custody of his mother. Juvenile #2’s father was briefed in detail about the circumstances of the situation, provided with case information and given procedural information.
When weighed at the station, the marijuana found in the large blue container weighed 128.6 grams, while the marijuana in the black container weighed 11.5 grams, totaling 140.1 grams, more than a quarter of a pound. The recovered firearm was secured and placed into an evidence locker by Officer Ryan Welch.
Juvenile #2 was transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Staff at the center informed Liotti that he required medical clearance from the hospital due to marijuana consumption. After getting medical clearance from on-site doctors, he was transported back to the jail and released to the custody of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Liotti’s report also notes that the vape pens found in the vehicle were taken as possible evidence related to a burglary case being investigated by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (Case #2023015521). The details of this incident coincide with the firearm found in juvenile #2’s possession.
Attempts were made to contact Ava Clark, the owner of the recovered handgun, via phone call and text, however, these attempts were unsuccessful. Clark was instructed to contact HBPD regarding this incident.
HOLMES BEACH – Police Officer Andrew Adkins was in his patrol car at the intersection of Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive on Nov. 7 at 10:41 p.m. when he saw a black Chevy Silverado leave the Manatee Beach parking lot and go straight through a traffic light while in the left turn lane.
Adkins noticed the truck had a tinted license plate cover and initiated a traffic stop in the 700 block of Manatee Avenue. He identified the driver as Christopher Leopard, 46, of Indiana.
“Leopard was acting nervous during the stop and told me he did not have his license. I gathered his name and date of birth and went back to my vehicle,” Adkins said in his official report. “While doing so, he waved out of the driver’s window so I approached the vehicle again. He told me he found his Indiana driver license so I took it from him and returned to my vehicle.”
When Adkins ran Leopard’s license, he found an active warrant from Indiana. Meanwhile, additional units had arrived on the scene to assist. Adkins asked Leopard to exit the vehicle, but he refused, saying his identity had been stolen, which immediately aroused suspicion from the officers. Adkins tried to open the door, but Leopard had locked it and rolled up the window, causing officers to lay spike strips in front of the vehicle, anticipating that he may attempt to flee the scene, which he did.
“I told Christopher to give me the keys and that he is not free to leave but he began fleeing at a high rate of speed eastbound on Manatee Avenue. I got in my patrol vehicle and initiated a pursuit with lights and siren active,” Adkins said in his report. “Leopard was fleeing at speeds of about 120 mph.”
The pursuit continued down the Palma Sola Causeway, and a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy was able to deploy stop sticks on the truck, according to the report. Although the front driver’s side tire was flat, Leopard continued to flee at a high speed and often into oncoming traffic before hitting the median and crossing back into the correct lane of traffic. Now driving on a bare rim, Leopard continued to drive erratically, running stop lights and refusing to stop. Another spike strip was deployed which caused the truck to slow down, where Leopard then jumped out of the moving vehicle running north on Eighth Street North. The vehicle then veered off the roadway, onto a sidewalk, went slightly up a utility pole wire, and then came to a stop after an impact with a chain link fence.
“I noticed he turned west onto Fourth Avenue West and was proned out on the ground next to Officer Hurt’s patrol vehicle. I took Leopard into custody and secured him in Officer Hurt’s vehicle,” Adkins said. “I placed him under arrest for obstructing an officer’s investigation without violence, fleeing to elude an officer with a disregard for other persons and property and resisting arrest without violence. I also issued him 11 traffic citations for the traffic infractions that occurred during the incident.”
Leopard was arrested and taken to Manatee County Jail and was issued a bond of $8,500. He is scheduled to appear in front of Judge Frederick Mercurio on Wednesday, Jan. 3 in Manatee County’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court.
HOLMES BEACH – A police investigation of an incident involving leaving the scene of an accident led to an unrelated arrest when a man allegedly burglarized the car involved in the investigation.
The Nov. 1 incident began at 5:18 p.m. as Holmes Beach Police Department Officer Alexander Hurt was dispatched to the Doctor’s Office restaurant in reference to a hit-and-run accident.
When Hurt arrived, he saw Officer Franklin Price speaking with a heavily intoxicated man in the parking lot. Hurt was advised that the man was a passenger in a vehicle that had struck a parked vehicle.
“Myself and Officer Price began speaking with the male to figure out where the other party had gone,” Hurt said in his official report. “I met with Matthew Jeronimo, who was the on-duty bar manager at the time of the incident. Jeronimo stated that he witnessed two heavily intoxicated subjects walk into the bar and request service. Jeronimo advised that due to their extremely intoxicated state, they were both refused service and asked to leave.”
Hurt said Jeronimo advised him that after a brief argument with the two men, they both left. He then saw them walk to a car and meet a female subject, later identified as Amelia Saavedra, 44, of Bradenton, who got into the driver’s seat of the car. Jeronimo said Saavedra then put the car in reverse and struck a pink Toyota parked next to her vehicle, before driving away south on Holmes Boulevard. Jeronimo said the vehicle that was struck belonged to an employee of the bar, and he quickly ran outside to get the plate number before calling police.
“While in the middle of our investigation, a female matching the description of the driver stumbled up to us and began yelling at the male we were speaking to,” Hurt said in his report. “The female was positively identified by Jeronimo as the driver of the vehicle. I placed Saavedra under arrest for leaving the scene of an accident and transported her to HBPD.”
Adkins was able to locate the suspect vehicle, a white Mazda CX-5, around the corner from the scene, where it had struck a raised boardwalk attached to a business. Saavedra claimed she never drove the vehicle and it was her boyfriend who had been driving. The two men were not charged in the incident.
Adkins waited with the white Mazda, parked in a space off Gulf Drive just west of Holmes Boulevard in front of Vinny’s Italian Kitchen, while the tow truck made its way to the scene.
“I was awaiting a tow truck to arrive for this vehicle so I was sitting about a car length and a half away on the side of Gulf Drive with my emergency lights activated,” Adkins said in his report. “I observed a white male with a neon orange shirt walk past my vehicle, past the Mazda, and then towards a pickup truck that was parked a couple spaces away. The male then turned around while also looking around and began walking towards the driver side of the Mazda.”
Adkins said it appeared the man saw the keys to the Mazda on the vehicle’s driver’s side roof, which had been placed there for the tow truck driver. He then went to the front passenger window, looked inside and opened the door. As the male subject reached into the vehicle, not noticing the police car only a few feet away, Adkins got out of his patrol vehicle and ordered the man, later identified as Adam Fleming, 34, of Bradenton, to get on the ground while pointing his taser at him. Fleming did not comply, and while he did put his hands above his head, he did not go to the ground as ordered. Adkins was able to get close enough to Fleming to take him to the ground and secure him in handcuffs.
“Fleming alleged he walked past my vehicle and was looking at utility markings that were painted on the ground and noticed the white SUV. He stated he then wanted his jacket and thought that the Mazda looked similar to the white Ford SUV he came to the area in earlier,” Adkins said in his report. “Due to this, he stated he then went into the vehicle to see if his jacket was there. It was clearly visible that the Mazda did not have any jacket in plain view in the area that he was entering. I asked Fleming if he was certain that the Mazda was the car he rode in earlier and he stated no, he was not certain. I asked him why he went into the Mazda if he didn’t know if the vehicle was the same one he rode in earlier and he listed reasons such as the incident was a mistake, an accident, and also alleged it happened because he was drunk. I however did not observe any obvious indicators of alcohol impairment.”
The owner of the Mazda, Saavedra, who was already under arrest, was asked if she wanted to press charges, to which she said yes. She also said she did not know Fleming and he had not ridden in the vehicle. Adkins placed Fleming under arrest for unarmed burglary to an unoccupied conveyance and for resisting an officer without violence. Fleming was taken to the Holmes Beach Police Department, then transported to Manatee County Jail. Saavedra pled not guilty and was released on $120 bond. Her court date is Dec. 5 in front of Judge Melissa Gould. Fleming was later released on $2,000 bond after pleading not guilty. He is due in court on Dec. 15 to face the charges in front of Judge Stephen Whyte.
