News Briefs

+ Sheriff’s Office sting garners 43 arrests
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a weeklong sting Sept. 10 to Sept. 17 that resulted in the arrest of 43 individuals who were soliciting sex from juveniles.

Detectives went online in various undercover capacities and set up meetings with the defendants at an undercover residence in Manatee County. The defendants believed they were meeting with a juvenile for a sexual encounter.

Defendants were arrested on charges including Travel to Seduce, Solicit or Entice a Child to Commit Sexual Act; and Use of a Computer to Seduce, Solicit or Entice a Child to Commit Sexual Act.

Some defendants also were charged with Transmission of Materials Harmful to Minors by Electronic Device or Equipment; Lewd and Lascivious Molestation; Attempted Capital Sexual Battery; and Possession of Drugs. One subject was a registered sexual predator.

The investigation is ongoing with additional arrests and charges forthcoming.

Video of the operation will be available on the Manatee Sheriff’s Office’s YouTube site, which can be found at manateesheriff.org.

+ Authorities arrest three burglary suspects
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has made three arrests following a string of vehicle burglaries in the Palm-Aire community.

A sheriff’s office report states just after midnight Sept. 20, a resident called to report a white Ford Ranger, with no bumper, was driving around the neighborhood. The caller believed it was a burglar.

Patrol units responded and began checking neighborhoods. A deputy located the vehicle traveling east on Tallevast Road and initiated a traffic stop.

The passengers — Christopher Whitson, 19, Jarrod Ditmars, 21, and Colton Sherwood, 21 — were asked to step out of the vehicle. As they did so, several credit cards that did not belong to them dropped to the floorboard.

The vehicle was not registered to the driver, so an inventory of the vehicle was taken prior to towing. Items included three GPS devices, a laptop, multiple chargers, an FM transmitter, a handicap placard and a Slim Jim, among other items.

The suspects were read their Miranda rights.

The report states some items recovered were associated with burglaries in Sarasota.

Ditmars said he and Whitson had committed more than 15 burglaries in Sarasota the previous night. He also went with a deputy to identify Manatee County burglary locations. Those victims were contacted, and their property was returned.

Meetings & Agendas
• Council of Governments Meeting — 4 p.m. Oct. 2, at the Public Safety Center in the Manasota Industrial Park, 2101 47th Terrace E., Bradenton.
• Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Land-Use Meeting — 9 a.m. Oct. 4, at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.