Murder suspect arrested on Longboat Key

A suspected drug dealer was arrested in Longboat Key last month on a murder charge related to a death by overdose.

Toby Davis was arrested by Longboat Key police March 20, according to a police report. Police Chief Russ Mager said Davis was on the island for work. On the day of the arrest, he was driving a pickup truck with a ladder rack, according to the report.

Davis’ murder charge stems from an overdose that occurred in October 2025 near Ellenton in Manatee County. According to a Manatee County arrest warrant, a medical examiner’s autopsy of a Manatee County resident identified as “the decedent” in the report showed the likely cause of the person’s death as intoxication due to cocaine and oxycodone with a contributory of hypertensive heart disease.

According to the warrant, text messages between the victim and Davis were “consistent with” a narcotics transaction. The warrant states the father of the victim saw Davis enter the house the same day as the text message thread where Davis allegedly agreed to sell cocaine to the victim.

The warrant also describes a Sheriff’s deputy using the deceased person’s phone to have Davis deliver additional drugs to the same address while Davis was surveilled.

“Davis arrived as the sole occupant of the vehicle. Davis exited and walked toward the carport entrance. As detectives approached Davis to detain him, he made a tossing motion with his hand and turned between vehicles in the carport area, appearing to discard an item,” the warrant describes. 

A white, powdery substance was found and tested positive for cocaine, and more was found on Davis’ person upon his arrest, the warrant states.

“Davis was charged on October 28, 2025, with possession with intent to sell a controlled substance and is now being charged with the death of the decedent,” the warrant concludes.

Davis was arrested after a “be on the lookout” alert was sent to nearby jurisdictions March 20, stating Davis was traveling toward Anna Maria Island. That alert was followed up saying that he had been traveling south on Longboat Pass Bridge onto Longboat Key. An LKPD officer ran a tag search and saw that the vehicle had been tracked entering the island through one of the license plate readers, showing the vehicle on the north end of the island. 

After the arrest, Davis told an officer that he felt unwell. He was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital where Manatee County Sheriff's Office took custody of Davis.

The charge description on the affidavit is listed as “murder dangerous depraved wo premeditation.” Florida State law’s murder chapter includes the unlawful killing of a human being “which resulted from the unlawful distribution by a person 18 years of age or older of any of the following substances, or mixture containing any of the following substances, when such substance or mixture is proven to have caused, or is proven to have been a substantial factor in producing, the death of the user.”

On April 16, Davis entered a plea of not guilty and a demand for a jury trial.