Lido resident arrested for Circle burglary

A Lido Shores resident was arrested last week after an alleged burglary at La Malinche Mexican Restaurant, 40 S. Blvd. of the Presidents, on St. Armands Circle.

According to Sarasota police, officer Donzia Franklin was on bicycle patrol around 4 a.m. Wednesday, July 18, when she noticed Jeffrey Todaro walking quickly, westbound on John Ringling Boulevard.

Franklin, who has patrolled Lido, St. Armands and Bird keys for the past 18 years, often on bicycle, recognized Todaro, 44, as a Lido Shores resident.

One minute later, she was dispatched to a burglary scene at La Malinche.

The restaurant’s owner, Azore Fontanot, told police that he heard someone moving inside the restaurant and confronted the perpetrator, who shoved the owner and swung at him before running away.

Franklin returned to the area where she had been patrolling and found Todaro riding a bicycle northbound on North Washington Drive, the report states. She stopped him, and Fontanot traveled to the scene and identified him has the perpetrator.

Todaro was arrested on charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling. He has 17 prior arrests, including 14 felony and 13 misdemeanor charges. His listed address is in the 400 block of Bowdoin Circle, however, he is not the owner of the property, according to property records.

At press time, he remained in Sarasota County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bond.

A news release from Sarasota police stated that Franklin was able to make the arrest because she “was doing bike patrol at 4 a.m., and she is active enough in the community to recognize Todaro and know where he was likely to be going.”

Franklin has received the Sarasota “Officer of the Year” award, two meritorious service medals and two lifesaving medals. Last year, the Lido Shores Homeowners Association presented her with its Community Service Award.