- February 18, 2025
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1:20 a.m., 1500 block of Main Street
Fight: Officers arrived at a late night drinking and dining venue to observe a man bleeding from his nose. He stated that while inside the establishment, a friend was pushed by an unknown male.
Not one to accept that demonstration of disrespect, the nosebleed victim explained that he responded by picking up and throwing a beverage of non-specified variety at the perpetrator. That was when the victim said he was battered by a group of individuals, although he was unable to provide a description of them.
The officers spoke with the manager, who corroborated the victim’s tale of woe, adding the melee involved approximately 10 people, including the victim and his friends.
No further action was taken.
400 block of Benjamin Franklin Boulevard
Dispute: An officer was flagged down by a complainant who spoke limited English but was able to communicate that two men owed him money for a car ride to work. He then led an officer to where the subjects were walking. The officer was able to discern through the language barrier that the subjects had been paying him for rides to work, but that they owed him $40.
In order to get to the bottom of the story, the complainant handed the officer a telephone with dispatch on the line. A translator confirmed the man’s complaint, but there was more. The translator also advised one of the subjects said the complainant was harassing and terrorizing them, and that he may wish to press charges.
Another officer arrived on the scene and brokered an agreement between the parties with an agreement to pay the complainant $20. The translating officer also advised the subjects recanted their statement about being harassed by the complainant. The men were then transported to an Amscot location so they could cash checks and pay the complainant.
1:45 p.m., 500 block of South Pineapple Avenue
Disturbance: Two officers were dispatched to the area after a highly reliable witness saw two subjects “about to get physical” in the combatant sense. That witness, SPD Chief Rex Troche, activated the lights of his vehicle and called for officers to respond to the scene.
One officer met with a man who said he was driving southbound on Orange Avenue when his co-combatant was crossing the street in the designated crosswalk. As he drove past, the pedestrian signaled for him to slow down, to which the driver responded with a deragory hand gesture that involves the raising of a single digit. Taking exception to that reply, the pedestrian proceeded to punch the driver side mirror of the vehicle, not causing any damage.
Further escalating the situation, the driver exited his vehicle and a shoving match ensued. That’s when the police chief appeared on the scene.
Because it was determined both parties mutually provoked the situation, there was no probable cause to make an arrest, and both parties were sent on their way.
7:59 p.m., 3900 block of Overlook Bend Terrace
Harassment: In a case of unrequited passion, the complaint told an officer that, four days earlier, a nearby resident knocked on the door of his villa and invited him, in not so many words, to engage in coital activities.
Not inclined to obtain carnal knowledge of the subject, the man diplomatically declined by saying he was on his way to a doctor’s appointment.
Undeterred by the complainant's rejection, the subject was found waiting for him as he returned home, approached him and attached his open hand to his posterior, perhaps in hopes the romantic gesture would render the complainant captive to his charms. No further details of that encounter were specified. The next day, the complainant said the man left a note on his door that read, “What about 7 o'clock tonight?”
Then that Friday, the complainant said he was leaving with his mother-in-law when he saw the subject waving for him to come over, which he ignored.
The complainant said there have been no threats of violence from the man but he just wanted him to cease and desist. He advised he plans to obtain a restraining order against the man but does not wish to prosecute at this time.