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Officers remind drivers of LSV safety rules

Officers remind drivers of LSV safety rules

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As more visitors come to Anna Maria Island, many are realizing that renting a golf cart-style low-speed vehicle can be a fun and effective way to get around. For residents and visitors alike, it’s important to remember that the same rules apply whether driving a car or an LSV.

When operating an LSV, the driver is required to be licensed, just like in a car or truck, and all passengers must wear a seatbelt. Young children also are required to be secured in an appropriate child seat for their age and size.

“We are enforcing seatbelt laws, monitoring the usage of the golf carts to make sure the driver is authorized to drive and we’re monitoring capacity,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said. “Children are supposed to be in car seats and all passengers need to be seatbelted. The same rules apply that would apply in a car.”

One of the biggest frustrations for Tokajer and other law enforcement officials on the Island is that some users may not realize the danger of not taking the proper safety precautions when driving or riding in one of the smaller vehicles. An LSV weighs significantly less than a motor vehicle, is much smaller and does not have the same safety equipment, including air bags, doors and windows.

“We’ve really tried to educate rather than just write tickets,” Bradenton Beach Police Lt. Lenard Diaz said. “We try to tell people that if you look in the rearview mirror and see you’re backing up traffic, pull over to the side safely and let traffic pass. The issue we’re having, though, is that people are not pulling over and stopping, but rather pulling into the bike lane and waving people around them. This is not only illegal, it’s dangerous for anyone using the bike lane.”

Diaz says pulling over and letting traffic pass if you can’t go a reasonable speed is not only the courteous thing to do but it’s also the law.

LSV drivers can be cited for impeding the flow of traffic if their vehicle doesn’t go at least close to the posted speed limit. On Anna Maria Island, all of the city of Anna Maria has a 25-mph posted speed limit. In Holmes Beach, the speed limit is also 25 mph with the exceptions of Manatee Avenue and East Bay Drive where the speed limit is 35 mph. In Bradenton Beach, many city streets have a speed limit of 25 mph, though sections of Gulf Drive have a 35-mph speed limit.

Typically, low-speed vehicles travel at a top speed of 25 mph, though that speed can be affected by a number of circumstances including the size and type of the vehicle and the number of passengers. In Holmes Beach, golf carts – the unlicensed type that are built primarily for use on golf courses – are permitted to be driven on city streets by residents only. Any rental vehicle on the Island, despite looking like a golf cart, is required to be an LSV, which has a license plate and is registered with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles.

LSVs are not permitted to be driven across the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue and down through the Palma Sola Causeway Beach area to the mainland due to an increase in the speed limit to 45 mph. Whether or not the vehicles are legally permitted to cross the Cortez Bridge leading from Bradenton Beach to the village of Cortez is still up for debate.

Diaz said his department does not patrol the bridge, so Bradenton Beach police will not stop an LSV from crossing in either direction. A representative from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, which patrols unincorporated Manatee County where Cortez is located, was unable to cite a local ordinance or state statute specifically stating whether or not the vehicles are allowed to cross that bridge.

“It’s important to remember though, that many of these rental agencies that rent out the carts have their own rules about where they can go,” Diaz said. “I think some of them don’t permit the carts to leave the Island. While the rental companies should make sure every renter is well-versed on all of the rules regarding the carts, in the end, as far as our department is concerned, the driver is responsible for their decisions and their knowledge of the laws and rules. They’ll get the ticket, not the rental company.”

Almost all the rental vehicles on the Island have GPS transmitters on them, so anyone violating the rules could suffer consequences such as having their rental contract terminated. Also, both Diaz and Tokajer agree that driving an LSV across the Cortez Bridge is dangerous because there is no shoulder and a collision could be deadly.

There have been multiple accidents involving LSVs on the Island, ranging from a near-fatal accident last year in Holmes Beach to more than one collision in Bradenton Beach in the past six months.

 

“Remember, when you come here, just live on island time. Take it easy, enjoy your surroundings and don’t rush,” Diaz said. “Do that, and you’ll get where you’re going safely.”

School in session; slow down

School in session; slow down

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Schools.

HOLMES BEACH – School is back in session at Anna Maria Elementary School, and officials warn drivers to stay alert and slow down, particularly in the school zone.

Distracted driving is an area of particular concern, according to Holmes Beach police officers.

“The biggest problem we see is people not paying attention and not slowing down,” Lt. Brian Hall said. “A lot of people still have their cell phones in their hands while they’re driving through the school zone. We’ve been enforcing that and have given a lot of citations already and will continue to have a presence throughout the school year.”

Hall said that his department takes violations in school zones very seriously and most violators will be ticketed, not warned. He also points out that a violation in a school zone carries higher fines and penalties, similar to construction zone fines, which are often double that of a regular violation.

When driving through a school zone, police can stop anyone texting, talking or using a phone in any manner other than hands-free.

A new survey from AAA reveals that many drivers admit to risky behaviors like using their handheld mobile phones and speeding while driving through a school zone. A survey of Floridians shows 38% admitted to speeding and 32% admitted to using their hand-held phone while driving in active school zones.

“Drivers can save lives by having a heightened sense of awareness from the moment they leave the driveway,” AAA Spokesman Mark Jenkins said. “You’d expect to see more foot traffic near schools, but neighborhoods and city streets will also be bustling
with activity. Since children can move quickly and cross the road unexpectedly, it’s important to constantly scan the road for people while driving and be ready to stop at a moment’s notice. You can also reduce the risk of injury by slowing down and avoiding distractions like using your cellphone or eating while driving.”

AAA representatives, through the company’s School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign, remind motorists to:

  • Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.
  • Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.
  • Eliminate distractions. Taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.
  • Share the road with bicyclists. Children on bicycles are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least 3 feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist.

Both Holmes Beach police officers and AAA representatives also stress the importance of parents educating children on being alert when crossing the street or walking near traffic. Both motorists and pedestrians should take safety measures as a precaution when traveling, particularly through busy areas.

It’s also important to know the law regarding school buses. All drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street or a multi-lane paved median must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.

Traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least 5 feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic. However, motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus.

Celebrate Independence Day safely

Celebrate Independence Day safely

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – For many, no proper Fourth of July celebration is complete without setting off fireworks. However, private displays of bombs bursting in air are illegal on the Island.

Though fireworks can be purchased in Florida, rules regarding their legal use are more complicated.

In April 2020, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 140 into law. The bill allows people 18 and older to buy fireworks to use on three holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Independence Day. The previous law required signing a waiver saying the fireworks were for specific agricultural reasons.

While the state law is clear, local cities and counties have their own rules that supersede what the state allows.

Each of the three cities on Anna Maria Island has a slightly different approach to how fireworks violations will be enforced, but setting off fireworks of any kind is forbidden anywhere on the Island, especially the beaches – fireworks can disturb nesting shorebirds, sea turtles and other Island wildlife.

Celebrate Independence Day safely
The sound of fireworks can cause shorebirds such as this Black Skimmer to abandon their nests. – Submitted

Audubon Florida says the bursts of color and noise wreak havoc on coastal birds, especially nesting species. After each fireworks explosion, birds panic and fly from their nests, scattering the chicks and exposing them to predators and heat until their parents return.

It’s also sea turtle nesting season, and both adult and hatchling turtles can easily be disoriented by light, sometimes leading to their deaths.

Here is how officials in the three Island cities approach fireworks:

Anna Maria

The city of Anna Maria is patrolled by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. The department refers to Manatee County Ordinance 04-27, which covers fireworks rules and laws at length and also echoes other area laws that prohibit individuals from lighting any shell that flies in the air or explodes above the ground without a permit. A spokesman did not directly address whether the department recognizes the state bill that legalizes fireworks on July 4.

“Our response to fireworks enforcement has not changed. When deputies respond to complaints involving fireworks, their goal is to obtain voluntary compliance through education,” said Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Randy Warren.

Bradenton Beach

Bradenton Beach police will be enforcing a local ordinance that does not allow fireworks on the three state-designated holidays and will confiscate fireworks from anyone caught setting them off. It’s also possible to be issued a citation, even on July 4.

“The use of fireworks is illegal and they will be confiscated. Depending on

the severity of the amount someone possesses, they can also be fined,” Bradenton Beach Police Lt. Lenard Diaz said. “Nothing that projects up is allowed.”

Holmes Beach

Holmes Beach has a similar approach to enforcement of local laws regarding fireworks in the city. Police Chief Bill Tokajer said most private fireworks displays in the city are illegal and there will be consequences for violators.

“Exploding, launching and projectile fireworks are illegal,” Tokajer said. “We will be handling each report of fireworks depending on what the firework is and how it’s being handled. The fine is up to $500. Also, be sure to closely supervise children while using legal fireworks” such as sparklers.

Officials know some will choose to ignore the law and take their chances. Anyone choosing to do so is strongly encouraged to avoid densely populated areas and beaches.

After a hiatus due to COVID-19, the Sandbar Restaurant in Anna Maria has announced the return of Fourth of July weekend fireworks. The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 2 at the Sandbar, and can be viewed free by the public. The VIP event at the restaurant is sold out. not changed. When deputies respond to complaints involving fireworks, their goal is to obtain voluntary compliance through education,” said Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Randy Warren.

Holmes Beach Hummer not just for show

Holmes Beach Hummer not just for show

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The Holmes Beach Police Department has a new tool that can not only turn heads, but also save lives.

On the Island, it’s not uncommon to see a Ferrari or Rolls Royce passing by in traffic, but drivers are doing a double-take when they see a fully marked military Hummer that looks like a regular police SUV went to the gym and hit the weights. The vehicle is the latest addition to the Holmes Beach Police Department’s fleet, and it’s not just for show.

“We didn’t need any taxpayer money to get this Hummer on the road. When the vehicle came to us it was a mess. This thing had a big plant growing in the back, it was dirty, it had obviously been outside for years,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said. “We took it and washed it, sandblasted it, had the interior Rhino-coated, painted it, added the graphics and all the detail work.” 

Holmes Beach Hummer not just for show
The Holmes Beach Hummer is fully equipped with emergency lights, sirens and even military armor. HBPD officers also added a custom metal flag on the hood of the “Stormtrooper.” – Jason Schaffer | Sun

The Hummer was nicknamed “Stormtrooper” after one of Holmes Beach’s dispatchers said the white vehicle looked like a stormtrooper from Star Wars. The vehicle was acquired through the 1033 program, which allows participating police departments to buy military surplus equipment, including vehicles such as the Hummer.

“We are a part of the 1033 program. We signed up as a city to make sure we’re in compliance with what the government says we need to be,” said Tokajer. “After the storm Irma came through and we had to do a couple of high water rescues, we had three of our trucks that sat up pretty high damaged due to water. Since we have to save people, we began looking for a Hummer.”

Tokajer wasn’t just looking for any Hummer, he wanted one with an intake snorkel that sticks up from the engine about 3 feet. This allows the engine to take in air and run completely submerged in water. The Hummer also has an exhaust pipe that rises more than 3 feet from the rear of the vehicle, preventing it from stalling out in water that can rise above the windshield. 

Holmes Beach Hummer not just for show
Holmes Beach police officers worked hard to transform a military surplus vehicle into a working rescue machine. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“I’m always looking for ways to improve the equipment for the department that doesn’t cost the taxpayers any money,” Tokajer said, adding that the Hummer was set to cost $500 initially, but since it needed a little more work than advertised, the $500 was dropped and the only initial fee was the cost to have it towed to Holmes Beach.

Tokajer said his officers did most of the work on the vehicle installing lights, paint, new parts and more. The total cost to restore the 1999 Hummer to like-new condition was only $2,000 due to the extra effort by the officers. The $2,000 came from the department’s maintenance budget, leaving taxpayers to pay nothing. He said the damage that regular police vehicles may not incur in a high water situation thanks to the Hummer could save money in the long run.

Tokajer said there is more equipment his department is currently working to secure through grants that will not require taxpayer dollars, including a boat and some new radios. He estimates the department has gotten over $1 million in funding from other sources that did not put a burden on the taxpayers over the past nine years.

Holiday parking woes continue

Holiday parking woes continue

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – Parking issues that caused police to write hundreds of tickets on Mother’s Day spilled over into Memorial Day weekend, police say.

Coquina Beach was chaos on the Sunday before Memorial Day, as well as the actual Monday holiday, with people choosing to form a new, illegal lane of parking that resulted in plenty of tickets being issued by Bradenton Beach police.

Dozens of drivers also parked illegally along the grassy area on the east side of Gulf Drive, resulting in numerous $75 dollar tickets.

“It’s been really busy, and people are parking wherever they want,” said Bradenton Beach Police Lt. Lenard Diaz, who was getting out of his vehicle with a large stack of tickets from illegal beach parking when The Sun spoke to him the day before Memorial Day.

The issue in both Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach appears to be that many visitors would rather pay the $75 fine than try to find a legal parking space.

“I don’t care, it’s not much different than going to a theme park and paying a fortune for parking. As long as they’re not towing, we value our very limited family time more than the price of a ticket,” said Lindsay Harris, who was visiting Cortez Beach with her family from Lakeland. Holiday weekends are a favorite for Florida residents who are within driving distance from the beach.

“There were 122,045 cars between Friday, May 27 and Monday, May 30 that passed our license plate recognition devices in Holmes Beach,” said Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer. “I don’t have the exact number of tickets our department gave out, but I can tell you that one of my sergeants gave out 60 tickets himself on Memorial Day. I can tell you that I personally gave out 22 tickets on Memorial Day Monday.”

Tokajer echoes the Bradenton Beach police, saying the biggest issue was people parking wherever they want to. The chief also noted that people said that as long as the department wasn’t towing, they had little problem paying the ticket and leaving their vehicles parked.

July Fourth is less than a month away, and police expect more of the same when the holiday arrives. Police will continue to ticket, so anyone planning a day trip by car is advised to arrive as early as possible to obtain a legal parking spot and leave fireworks at home, as they are not permitted on the Island.

No additional parking will be available in Bradenton Beach, but parking will be allowed at Anna Maria Elementary School for the holiday weekend.

Related coverage

 

Memorial Day weekend parking won’t be without peril

 

New illegal beach parking trend grows

Third suspect arrested in Holmes Beach attack

Third suspect arrested in Holmes Beach attack

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – A third suspect in the violent beating of a 40-year-old man has been arrested. 

Cameron Evans, 18, of Sarasota was located and arrested by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office on April 14 at 10:30 a.m. after a warrant had been issued for the aggravated battery of Evan Purcell. 

John William Bartholow, 17, of Ellenton was taken into custody by police on March 30 and an unidentified juvenile also has been charged and is in the custody of his parents.

Third suspect arrested in Holmes Beach attack
John William Bartholow, 17, was arrested in connection to the aggravated battery of Evan Purcell. – Submitted

Purcell, a Holmes Beach resident, was walking his dog with his 10-year-old niece on the evening of March 23 when he came upon some teenagers breaking bottles, drinking alcohol and vandalizing Anna Maria Elementary School property, according to a police report. Purcell yelled at the group to stop what they were doing, which resulted in the teens becoming aggressive. Although Purcell waved a pocket knife as he feared for his safety, it was not a deterrent to the teens, who knocked him to the ground and beat him severely with a wooden object, possibly a skateboard.

According to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, police arrived on the scene about 9 p.m. to find the assailants gone and Purcell unconscious on the ground. He was taken to HCA Blake Hospital in stable condition, but suffering from multiple serious injuries. 

Although there was no video of the incident, the suspect vehicle was identified by the city’s license plate recognition camera as a white Kia Sportage. Tokajer said the suspects were not students of Anna Maria Elementary, and no one related to the school was believed to be involved.

Third suspect arrested in Holmes Beach attack
Increased security measures at Anna Maria Elementary are in response to the March 23 attack of a Holmes Beach man on the property. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

Since the incident, several security measures have been put in place at Anna Maria Elementary to deter loitering on school grounds after hours. Locking gates have been installed at all vehicle entrances and “No Beach Parking” signs have been posted to keep the lots clear during the day as well. 

Beach parking still will be allowed at the school on certain holiday weekends including Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day, according to Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth.

Purcell’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with his medical bills. As of April 10, the effort has raised $17,160 of their $25,000 goal. To make a donation, visit GoFundMe.

Related coverage

 

One suspect still at large in Holmes Beach beating

 

Suspect arrested in Holmes Beach attack

 

Brutal attack leaves AMI resident hospitalized

One suspect remains at large in Holmes Beach attack

One suspect still at large in Holmes Beach beating

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Two suspects have been arrested and one remains at large in the violent beating of a 40-year-old man in Holmes Beach.

John William Bartholow, 17, of Ellenton, was taken into custody by police on March 30 and an unidentified juvenile also has been charged after warrants were issued for the aggravated battery of Even Purcell.

One suspect remains at large in Holmes Beach attack
                    Bartholow

Due to the age of the juvenile, police are not releasing information about his capture, only saying he has been charged and is currently in the custody of his parents. The search continues for 18-year-old Cameron Leron Evans, of Sarasota, who is described as a 6’0” 140-pound Black male.

“We’ve had multiple agencies checking addresses for the remaining suspect, Cameron Evans, on active warrants,” Holmes Beach Police Lieutenant Brian Hall said. “I’m sure he’s just laying low and hiding out, but he’ll get caught.”

Purcell, a Holmes Beach resident, was walking his dog with his 10-year-old niece on the evening of March 23 when he came upon some teenagers breaking bottles, drinking alcohol and vandalizing Anna Maria Elementary School property. According to police, Purcell yelled at the group to stop what they were doing, which resulted in the group of teens becoming aggressive. Although Purcell waived a pocket knife as he feared for his safety, it was not a deterrent to the teens, who knocked him to the ground and beat him severely, including an assault with a wooden object, possibly a skateboard.

According to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, police arrived on the scene around 9 p.m. to find the assailants gone and Purcell unconscious on the ground. The victim was taken to HCA Florida Blake Hospital in stable condition, but suffering from multiple serious injuries. 

Although there was no video footage of the incident, the suspect vehicle was identified by the city’s license plate recognition camera as a white Kia Sportage. Tokajer also said there were cans and broken bottles left at the scene that could be used to obtain DNA and fingerprints. He also said these were not students of Anna Maria Elementary, and no one related to the school was believed to be involved in any way.

Since the incident, several security measures have been put in place at Anna Maria Elementary to deter loitering on school grounds after hours. Locking gates have been installed at all vehicle entrances and “No Beach Parking” signs have been posted to keep the lots clear during the day as well.

One suspect remains at large in Holmes Beach attack
Increased security measures at Anna Maria Elementary are in response to the March 23 attack of a Holmes Beach man on the property. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

Due to the violent acts committed and the nature of the charges, Evans is considered a danger to the community. Police are urging the public not to approach Evans if seen and to contact the Holmes Beach Police Department immediately with any information. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 866-634-TIPS or a web tip can be submitted online. Information can be submitted anonymously, and Crime Stoppers may pay a cash reward of up to $3,000.

Purcell’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with his medical bills. As of April 10, the effort has raised $17,015 of the $25,000 goal.

Related coverage

 

Suspect arrested in Holmes Beach

Suspect arrested in Holmes Beach attack

Suspect arrested in Holmes Beach attack

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – One suspect is under arrest and one is still at large in connection with the beating of a 40-year-old Holmes Beach man on March 23.

John William Bartholow, 17, of Ellenton was taken into custody by police on March 30 and charged with aggravated battery in the attack on Evan Purcell.

Another suspect, Cameron Leron Evans, 18, of Sarasota, is at large.

Purcell was walking his dog with his 10-year-old niece on the evening of March 23 when he came upon some teenagers breaking bottles, drinking alcohol and vandalizing Anna Maria Elementary School property, according to Holmes Beach police. Purcell yelled at the group to stop what they were doing, which resulted in the teens becoming aggressive. Although Purcell waived a pocketknife fearing for his safety, it was not a deterrent to the teens, who allegedly knocked him to the ground and beat him severely, including an assault with a wooden object, possibly a skateboard.

According to Holmes Beach Police Department Chief Bill Tokajer, police arrived on the scene around 9 p.m. to find Purcell unconscious on the ground and the assailants nowhere to be found. The victim was taken to Blake Hospital in stable condition, but suffering from multiple serious injuries.

Suspect arrested in Holmes Beach attack
Evan Purcell is recovering in Blake Hospital after being brutally beaten by a group of teenagers in Holmes Beach on March 23. – Submitted

Although there was no video footage of the incident, the suspect vehicle was identified by the city’s license plate recognition camera as a white Kia Sportage. Tokajer also said there were cans and broken bottles left at the scene that could be used to obtain DNA and fingerprints. He stressed that these were not students of Anna Maria Elementary, and no one related to the school was believed to be involved in any way.

Evans, a 6-foot tall, 140-pound Black man, is considered a danger to the community due to the violent acts committed and the nature of the charges, according to police.

Anyone who sees Evans is advised not to approach him and to immediately contact their local police department.

Suspect arrested in Holmes Beach attack
Evans

A third person, a juvenile, also has been charged in the case.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call HBPD at 941-708-5800.

To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS or submit a tip online. A reward of up to $3,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Purcell’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to assist with his medical bills. As of March 30, the effort has raised $15,755 of the $25,000 goal. To make a donation, visit the GoFundMe site.

Related coverage

 

Brutal attack leaves AMI resident hospitalized

Brutal attack leaves AMI resident hospitalized

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – A good deed backfired last week when a group of teens attacked a man who was trying to stop them from vandalizing Anna Maria Elementary School.

Holmes Beach resident Evan Purcell, 40, was seriously injured on March 23 when he confronted a group of teenagers allegedly drinking and breaking glass bottles near the cafeteria entrance of the school, according to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, who held a press conference about the incident.

Police seek information in assault case
Holmes Beach resident Evan Purcell is recovering in Blake Hospital after being attacked March 23 at Anna Maria Elementary School. – Submitted

Purcell was walking his dog that evening with his 10-year-old niece when he spotted the vandalism. Purcell said he told the teens to stop what they were doing and leave the property, according to Tokajer. When the teens became aggressive, Purcell pulled out a pocket knife to scare off the group. The move had the opposite effect, with some of the teenagers attacking Purcell, knocking him to the ground and hitting him repeatedly. Purcell’s niece escaped without injury and ran to a nearby home to call 911. The dog also was not injured. Tokajer said that when police arrived on the scene at about 9 p.m., the group had fled in a vehicle and Purcell was unconscious. He was transported by helicopter to Blake Hospital and was in stable condition as of press time for The Sun.

The investigation into what police are calling an aggravated battery case is ongoing.

While the suspects escaped, their vehicle was identified using the city’s license plate recognition system cameras as a white Kia Sportage, Tokajer said. He added that bottles and cans left behind at the scene of the crime are being evaluated for fingerprints and DNA evidence that will be used to identify those involved.

Police seek information in assault case
Police are still seeking information on the March 23 assault of Evan Purcell. – Submitted

Tokajer said it’s believed the group contained about six teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18, all thought to be from Sarasota and Manatee counties. Some have been identified, but their names have not been released. He encouraged anyone involved in the attack or with information about those involved to immediately contact HBPD Det. Josh Fleischer at 941-708-5800 ext. 270 or email fleischerj@holmesbeach.org. For anyone who has information but wishes to remain anonymous, contact Manatee County Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.

Community members are already reaching out to help Purcell as he recovers. His family has set up a GoFundMe account with the goal of raising $25,000 to help pay for hospital bills. As of March 27, $8,425 in funding had been raised. To donate, visit the fundraiser webpage.

Busted in Bradenton Beach

Busted in Bradenton Beach

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Police lights and the sound of helicopter blades woke residents early last Saturday morning as a driver blew past a Holmes Beach Police Department officer in the 2800 block of Gulf Drive, beginning a high-speed chase.

Busted in Bradenton Beach
Donald Smith

HBPD Officer Frank Price was driving north when he saw Donald Smith’s vehicle speeding south, according to the police report. Price turned on his lights and siren and tried to catch up with the grey sedan, but the suspect continued to speed up. Smith appeared to attempt to stop as he neared the intersection of Gulf Drive and Cortez Road. Price saw a Bradenton Beach Police Department patrol car turn his lights on and turn into Gulf Stream Beach Resort at 1501 Gulf Drive. BBPD Officer Roy Joslin asked Price on the police radio whether HBPD was chasing the sedan and said BBPD Officer Devon Straight had followed the car to the parking lot. 

According to the police report, Straight said he saw the vehicle come to a stop and saw Smith jump out of the driver’s seat and run into the woods behind the condo. Straight also identified the passenger, Koreiyale Johnson, and stayed with her and the vehicle. When Price arrived on the scene, he confirmed it was the vehicle he had been chasing. Johnson confirmed the driver of the vehicle was Smith, her boyfriend, and gave police a description of him and what he was wearing. 

Officers found a white medicine bottle on the ground by Smith’s vehicle that contained a white powdery substance inside a plastic bag. They also found a large amount of marijuana inside the vehicle. Johnson denied knowing any drugs were in the car.

Police found that Smith’s vehicle had crashed into a parked car before he fled, so police upgraded charges to fleeing and eluding, as well as multiple drug charges. Smith fled into the mangroves but police could not locate him, so they requested assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s helicopter, which was dispatched to Bradenton Beach to assist in the search. The helicopter crew alerted police that Smith was spotted on Canasta Drive where he ran onto a dock and jumped in the water, hiding under the dock.

With the help of the helicopter, officers were able to capture Smith in the water, bringing him to patrol cars waiting on Avenue B. Smith was arrested for possession with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, leaving the scene of a crash, fleeing and eluding law enforcement, unknowingly driving with a suspended license and driving too fast for a narrow or winding road. 

Smith was arrested and transported to HBPD for paperwork, then transported to the Manatee County Jail. Bond was set at $3,620.

LSV talks proceed slowly

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners continue to discuss making the roads safer through Holmes Beach, particularly for drivers of cars, golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs). Though commissioners made one decision, talks are planned to continue at a future work session.

When commissioners met on Oct. 26 for a work session, Mayor Judy Titsworth warned them that there is only so much they’re going to be able to do to regulate the use of LSVs in the city because they are considered vehicles by the state. She advised them instead to focus on the golf cart/LSV moratorium they enacted which involves new rental businesses coming to the city.

Police Chief Bill Tokajer said for safety purposes, the things he’d like to see reinforced through commission action is to have individual seatbelts on vehicles for each passenger, require the vehicles to be operated only by licensed drivers, remind drivers that they’re not allowed to operate golf carts and LSVs in bike lanes or on Manatee Avenue, East Bay Drive, or on the beach and require child restraints for small children. If approved by commissioners, those reminders to drivers will go on a sticker to be placed on rental vehicles as a visual reminder to those operating them in Holmes Beach.

Commissioners also are considering pushing the operation of golf carts and LSVs to roads in the city with a speed limit of 25 mph or less. To do that, commissioners also will need to agree to lower the speed limit in one section of Gulf Drive along the beach from 35 mph to 25 mph.

While commissioners agreed that each passenger needs to have an individual seatbelt, which also will limit the number of riders on the vehicles to the number of seats there are, all other considerations were continued to a future work session for further discussion.

Since commissioners began discussions on the regulation of golf carts, LSVs and rental businesses, some questions have been raised by the community about where the vehicles currently can be operated and whether trying to move the vehicles to more residential roads is a good idea.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she is in favor of moving the operation of slower-moving vehicles to roads with a 25 mph speed limit to give motor vehicle drivers traveling along Marina and Palm drives some relief and hopefully lessen road rage in the city.

Addressing the issue of LSVs and golf carts not being allowed on state roads, Tokajer said he’s received memos from both the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Highway Patrol ruling that the vehicles are not allowed to be operated on state roads, though they can cross them. The state roads in Holmes Beach are Manatee Avenue and East Bay Drive. Because the vehicles are not allowed to be operated on Manatee Avenue, Tokajer added that they should not be driven across the Anna Maria Island Bridge.

Under state law, counties and local municipalities are allowed to prohibit the operation of LSVs within their jurisdiction on roads where the operation of those vehicles is determined to not be safe.

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New funding for police officer

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – It took some discussion, but city commissioners voted to allow the Holmes Beach Police Department to add another officer to its ranks.

Commissioners voted three to two in favor of releasing funds earmarked in the budget for the new hire with Commissioners Kim Rash and Jayne Christenson voting no. Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that he’s vetted someone to potentially take the position but that, as of the Oct. 12 meeting, no one had been hired for the position since funding for it was pending commission approval.

The additional officer will bring the total of officers in the HBPD, including Tokajer, to 18, with 14 of those being patrol officers. By hiring the new officer, Tokajer said it brings the department up to a good staffing level and allows Lt. Brian Hall to take the second in command role that was eliminated to put more officers on patrol when Tokajer took over as chief nine years ago.

While Tokajer said the new hire is a part of his succession planning strategy, that strategy is to put a solid structure in place prior to his eventual retirement, not determine who the next chief of police will be in Holmes Beach.

Commissioner Jim Kihm said during the discussion that he’s concerned about Hall being pegged as Tokajer’s successor since he is related to Mayor Judy Titsworth. Kihm said he felt that relationship would be a conflict of interest in the city’s government structure. Titsworth said that she’s very proud of Hall and the career that he’s built over the years serving in the HBPD. Tokajer added that no one is guaranteed his job when he decides to retire, which he doesn’t plan to do any time soon.

While the mayor is an elected position serving a two-year term, the police chief is a city employee whose hiring is voted on by commissioners.

In her comments, Christenson said that she supports the HBPD and its officers but believes that an outside consultant should be hired to determine if the department needs another officer and, if so, Manatee County officials should be responsible for paying for that person rather than the city’s residents, due to the influx of tourism to Holmes Beach. Currently, Manatee County gives the HBPD $50,000 per year to patrol the county-owned beaches in Holmes Beach. Tokajer said he and Titsworth continue to work to get that amount raised.

Kihm added that he agrees the amount given to Holmes Beach for police by the county should be higher due to the public safety issues surrounding increased tourism to the Island.

Rash said that while he fully supports the police department, he also agrees that the county needs to increase what they’re giving to the department on an annual basis.

“Manatee County is profiting off of the Island and needs to step up to the bar,” he said. “The residents shouldn’t have to carry the burden for all of Manatee County’s wants.”

Commissioner Carol Soustek said that she voted in favor of hiring a new officer because she wants to stay ahead of enforcement in Holmes Beach. She added that she believes adequate staffing in the HBPD is essential to keeping crime rates low in the city.

Tokajer said in 2020, HBPD officers made 379 arrests, a significantly higher number than those made by Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key police officers.

HBPD Officer Michael VanHorn addressed commissioners during public comment, relaying some of the difficulties that the city’s police force faces on a regular basis, including a large number of calls that require multiple officers to respond, particularly if there is an aggressive suspect, such as in drug, intoxication and gun-related incident responses. He relayed examples of multiple incidents which occurred on one recent weekend where more than one officer was needed to respond to a call due to a violent suspect. In each instance, VanHorn said multiple officers were needed to subdue the suspect with minimal force and to try to prevent injury to their fellow officers.

The minimum shift staff for the HBPD includes two patrol officers, a sergeant and a mid-shift officer to ease the workload during shift change hours.

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Final budget hearing gets heated

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders hit a snag during the final hearing for the 2021-22 fiscal year budget when two commissioners voted against approving the proposed budget.

When commissioners met on Sept. 28 for the final public hearing of the budget, Commissioners Jayne Christenson and Kim Rash voted against adopting the proposed budget, causing an issue requiring a quick amendment to get the budget passed before the new fiscal year began Oct. 1.

Rash, who voted against the budget in the first hearing earlier in September, reiterated his position that he and some of the Holmes Beach residents he’s spoken to feel that the city’s budget has ballooned out of control and is too large for the size of the city.

During discussion, Christenson said she was voting against the budget because she didn’t support the proposed budget for the Holmes Beach Police Department, which includes funds to support the hiring of a new officer and all of the equipment that goes along with a new hire.

A new hire in the department would bring the total number of sworn officers, including Chief Bill Tokajer, to 18. Tokajer had previously stated that hiring a new officer is essential to policing the city and its growing number of visitors along with planning for the future of the department. Since Tokajer came on board nine years ago, there hasn’t been a deputy chief in the department, which would be standard and something that he wants to remedy as he begins to look toward retirement.

Christenson said she wasn’t in favor of approving the budget as presented and made a motion to exclude the funding for a new officer that ultimately failed to win approval from the majority of her fellow commissioners. When it came time to vote for the budget as presented, Christenson and Rash voted against it, causing the measure to fail for not receiving a supermajority vote of a minimum of four to one.

The police department budget represents $4,200,339 of the total $22,226,872 budget, including carryover and reserves.

During discussion, Tokajer was given the opportunity to reply to the concerns Christenson raised about the police department budget. He said that in his opinion, the department with 18 sworn officers including himself, one detective and a school resource officer for Anna Maria Elementary School, is adequately staffed for the number of residents in Holmes Beach, not the number of visitors the city hosts, which his officers are tasked with policing. Typically, he said there is one sergeant and two officers on each shift with a mid-shift officer working afternoons during shift change.

“This budget has been discussed between department heads and individual commissioners since May of this year,” Tokajer said. “To drop this bomb at the final hour is wrong and a slap in the face to the entire department. This has also put our city treasurer who has been open and transparent and readily available to all commissioners in a challenging position as revenue is at risk if budget deadlines are not met. I wouldn’t have brought this forth this year if I didn’t feel succession planning was necessary. Prior to my arrival, there was a deputy chief in the lieutenant position. I gave up this position to put more boots on the ground and to develop my team.”

“I would hope that after nine years as your chief of police, the professionalism your officers show every day and the significant reduction in crime we have shown that I would have the unconditional support of the entire commission. I know that I have the support of the community at large,” Tokajer continued. He added that he had hosted one-on-one meetings with commissioners throughout the budget process and had not received any negative feedback concerning the hiring of a new officer. Tokajer went on to say that if the funding for a new hire was not approved by commissioners that the department’s overtime budget would have to be adjusted.

“For this to happen at the last minute is not responsible governing,” he concluded.

Christenson said that she felt Tokajer’s comments were “bullying” and that he was attempting to use intimidation to get what he wants, in this case, funds for a new officer. She also said that she didn’t see how her decision to not vote for the budget as presented was “dropping a bomb” because Tokajer had given a prepared statement on the matter.

Mayor Judy Titsworth spoke up and said that she had been alerted to Christenson’s objections just before the meeting by city Treasurer Lori Hill and had told Tokajer, to allow him approximately 45 minutes to come up with a response. Hill and Christenson had met earlier in the day to discuss the commissioner’s concerns over the budget.

Christenson added that if the department needs additional officers or if more policing is needed that it shouldn’t be on the residents of Holmes Beach to supply funding through taxes for that, that Manatee County leaders should contribute more funding to the department or help out with policing.

When Commissioners Terry Schaefer, Carol Soustek and Jim Kihm all agreed that they supported the budget as-is with the police budget as presented, Christenson amended her suggested amendment for the budget to allow the police budget to remain intact but to require Tokajer to receive commission approval before being able to hire a new officer.

That amendment passed and then the budget with the amendment passed with unanimous support from commissioners.

For Tokajer to hire a new officer for the HBPD, he will need the support of three of the five Holmes Beach city commissioners, or a simple majority.

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Holmes Beach leaders start 2021-22 budget talks

Holmes Beach leaders start 2021-22 budget talks

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Budget discussions are underway in Holmes Beach and commissioners so far have only made a few minor adjustments to the proposed 2021-22 fiscal year finances.

City Treasurer Lori Hill presented the proposed $11,156,128 budget to city commissioners during a July 13 work session. In addition to the more than $11 million break-even revenue/expense budget, Hill’s proposal also included $9,306,655 estimated reserves and carryover from the previous year for a total of $20,462,782.

Some revenue, including proceeds from the half-cent sales tax, state revenue sharing, and communication tax are all estimates until final numbers are received from the state, Hill said. Until the end of the current fiscal year, Sept. 30, the $5,526,635 in unassigned reserves/general fund is also an estimate.

Commissioners voted unanimously on July 15 in a special meeting to set the maximum millage rate for the coming fiscal year at 2.25 mills, the same as the current year and in line with what Hill suggested during the budget workshop.

Millage is the tax amount charged to property owners by the city for each $1,000 of assessed property value determined by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office.

Despite proposing the same 2.25 millage rate as the current year, Hill said the city’s ad valorem revenue would increase by 6.93% due to an increase in property values.

The 2.25 mills rate is 6.24% higher than the rollback rate of 2.1178 mills which would bring in the same amount of ad valorem revenue as the current fiscal year.

While some commissioners questioned whether or not they could potentially lower the millage rate and still meet the city’s financial goals for the 2021-22 fiscal year to give property owners a tax break, Hill said that the city cannot lower the millage rate and still receive federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. Currently, she said she does not know how much funding the city could receive under the program, which will see funds distributed by state officials, or what those funds could be used for. Commissioners agreed to reassess their options in September during the two required public hearings for the budget when they hopefully will have more information on the possible amount of funding and its approved uses.

During budget discussions, commissioners reviewed areas where there are significant changes proposed, including in the police department, public works and outside agency funding.

Outside agency funding, which includes city contributions to The Center of Anna Maria Island and other nonprofit organizations on the Island, only saw a $2,500 increase from the previous year to a total of $27,500 but was a topic of some debate among commissioners. Ultimately, commissioners voted three-to-two, with Commissioners Jim Kihm and Jayne Christenson dissenting, to budget $25,000 for a contribution to The Center, one that would be guaranteed and not require commissioners’ to approve before it can be distributed to the nonprofit. The contribution is $2,500 higher than the $22,500 that has been given in previous years. The additional $2,500 in the $27,500 line item is to be distributed to other Island nonprofits at the mayor’s discretion.

The general government budget also increased by $4,000 after budget discussions at the workshop to allow for any commissioner who wants one to receive a city-issued laptop to conduct city business with instead of using their private devices.

The mayor and commission budget remained largely the same at $205,006, with $1,820 added for increases in elected officials’ stipends and $2,785 in increased computer and information technology services.

The budget for the Holmes Beach Police Department is proposed to increase by $374,105 to $3,990,311 for the 2021-22 fiscal year. Increases in the budget include the rehiring of a records clerk for the department, a position that was lost during the 2018-19 fiscal year and put off to cut costs in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years. It also includes the addition of another officer to assist in the promotion of Det. Sgt. Brian Hall to lieutenant and succession planning for the eventual retirement of Chief Bill Tokajer.

Other costs are the long-planned 911 upgrade that every law enforcement and first responder agency in Manatee County is required to participate in, the purchase of a new vehicle for the new hire officer, a new computer server, $64,000 for new tasers for officers to replace aging ones that are out of warranty and associated liability protections, $5,000 for five new bulletproof vests and $5,200 for the purchase of a new bulletproof shield. Tokajer said he hopes to recoup some of the funds for the bulletproof vest purchase via a grant.

The budget for the public works department is proposed to increase by $688,280 to $2,660,173. Planned spending in that department includes the addition of one new employee, an in-house engineer, $100,000 to repair 13 trolley stops and add two new ones, new phones and software for employees and rollover funds for lighting and landscaping at city center.

Mayor Judy Titsworth said that some of the funding for the in-house engineer position is planned to be recouped in lowered professional service fees paid to outside engineering firms by the city.

The building department’s budget is proposed to come in at $821,536, an increase of $191,960 over the current fiscal year. Planned spending includes the addition of a new employee, new computer equipment and a new server and $105,000 to be paid to LaRue Planning for services to the city, not including a payment of $27,000 for the final year of the comprehensive plan review which staff from LaRue is assisting planning commissioners on. The comprehensive plan expenditure is noted under the general government budget.

The Code Compliance budget is projected to increase by $50,197 to $640,863 to account for the hiring of a new full-time employee and the purchase of a new Ford F150 vehicle. Other line items, including professional services where officers plan to spend $32,000 less than the previous year.

Holmes Beach commissioners plan to host the first of two required budget hearings where the public is invited to speak and ask questions about planned spending at 5 p.m. on Sept. 15. The final budget hearing is planned for 5 p.m. on Sept. 28. The new budget will go into effect on Oct. 1.

Copies of the proposed budget are available to the public in the lobby at Holmes Beach City Hall.

 

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Holmes Beach police get two new ATVs with COVID grant

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The Police Department has two new Polaris side-by-side ATVs thanks to a grant set aside for COVID enforcement activities by law enforcement agencies.

“We decided to get a couple of the Polaris ATVs so we could be on the beach more, and work on social distancing and be able to educate people,” Chief William Tokajer said. The grant totaled $43,500, which was enough to acquire two Polaris ATVs, one six-seater and one three-seater. The COVID grant also provided enough money to equip the ATVs with police lights, sirens, and spotlights on the roofs, which are excellent tools for search and rescue operations, he said.

“They’re a great rescue vehicle – we’ve already used them to reunite lost children with their families,” he said. “When we were on the four-wheelers, we were unable to do that because it doesn’t have a side seat.” 

Tokajer also said the vehicles will make beach arrests more efficient, since officers won’t have to walk the suspect off the beach, disrupting beachgoers. Officers can simply secure the suspect in the Polaris and drive them away from the scene, just as they would in a normal patrol car, all the while leaving a much smaller footprint.

One of the biggest advantages of the Polaris ATVs, he added, is their maneuverability and ability to go places that may be a tight squeeze for a full-sized patrol vehicle. They can go on-road, off-road, or in the case of a bad traffic tie-up, a little bit of both.

Police also ask the public to remember that these are first-responder vehicles and need the same right of way as a police car, ambulance, or firetruck to help keep everyone safe.