Fired workers threaten damage at construction site

Saturday, May 3

Man warned she has a boyfriend

2:15 a.m., 1500 block of Main Street

Disturbance: A security guard had detained a man who was in an altercation with another man in a dispute that began at a different downtown bar on the same block. The subject advised he had been at a nearby location when a woman sat next to him and a conversation of unknown subject ensued. That’s when he was grabbed by his back, he told an officer, by a man who advised him the woman had a boyfriend. 

The forewarned man removed himself from the situation, soon after crossing paths with the woman’s boyfriend, with whom unpleasantries were exchanged. The detained man said although there was a brief physical altercation with the boyfriend, he did not wish to pursue any charges.

An officer then spoke with the boyfriend, who had been detained by other officers. He confirmed the other subject’s account of the early-morning events, but added that the other man balled his fists and he did hit him in self-defense. 

The incident was eventually determined to be mutual combat, and all parties left the area without further incident.

Holding drywall hostage

1800 block of Irving Street

Dispute: Officers responded to a residence under construction where three former employees of a construction site were threatening the complainant and possibly damaging the property. 

The three subjects were at the rear of the property and the complainant was called by phone who advised he was responsible for the interior build out of the home and had fired the three men because they failed to show up for work after their first day, but still demanded to be paid. The men called the complainant, threatening to shoot him and sending a photo of one holding a hammer near drywall, which was perceived as a threat to cause damage. 

A small dent was observed in the drywall in a photo. 

One man told an officer they completed the work one month ago and never paid, and they arrived at the site to locate the complainant to be paid. The man who called the complainant denied threatening to shoot him.

An officer contacted the property owner by phone who explained the situation and chose to not pursue charges but did request the three subjects be issued trespassing warnings. 

Sunday, May 4

You can’t stay here

1:40 a.m., 1500 block of Main Street

Disturbance: An employee of a downtown bar flagged down an officer regarding an intoxicated subject who was refusing to leave. The officer enlisted the help of a sergeant to deal with the man who was highly intoxicated and argumentative. He was given multiple opportunities to leave the area and take a ride home, but he refused and became belligerent toward law enforcement. He also nearly fell multiple times and his speech was described in the incident report as “extremely slurred.” 

Following multiple warnings to leave the area, he was placed into protective custody under a Marchman Act and transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.