BRADENTON — Two men were arrested Wednesday after they eluded police and pointed guns at an officer, according to an arrest reports.
Bradenton Police Street Crimes Unit arrested 20-year-old Jacob Blackmon on numerous charges including assault on a law enforcement officer and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Blackmon was driving a stolen green Saturn in the 4500 block of Cortez Road West when officers attempted to stop the car because the window tint was dark and the tag did not match the vehicle.
Officers followed the vehicle to the Village of Cortez Apartments. When Blackmon, who was driving, stopped the car and exited the vehicle, he immediately began running from police. He made it through an opening near a fence. When the officer held up his Taser, Blackmon pointed the gun at the officer. The officer fired the Taser several time and took Blackmon into custody.
A passenger in the car, 22-year-old Andre R. Haynes, bolted from the car carrying a pistol in his hand. An officer chased him and was able to grab him by the back of his black sweatshirt. Haynes attempted to point his gun at the officer. The officer drew his own gun and Haynes threw his gun to the parking lot.
Haynes took off again and was tackled by the officer. Haynes allegedly struck the officer in the face with his elbow. He was placed in handcuffs.
Blackmon remains in jail without bond and Haynes remains in jail on a $13,000 bond.
Child beaten with shoe
MANATEE — A Bradenton man faces a child abuse charge after authorities say he beat a child with a shoe so hard the blows left bruises and a shoe prints on his legs and buttocks.
Detectives arrested Allen Ray Cole, 26, Thursday, after a doctor said the injuries to the 2-year-old boy constituted child abuse. Cole said he hit the child to discipline him.
Cole also told detectives “he is not a violent man, and now regrets what he did,” the sheriff’s report said. He is being held in the Manatee County jail on a $1,000 bond.
Blind woman victim of theft
MANATEE — An Ohio woman has been arrested on charges of stealing an elderly blind woman’s money by stealing her checks and cashing them, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s report said Ronda Jean Fleenor, 41, and her boyfriend, James St. Marie, lived with the 86-year-old Bradenton victim, helping her take care of her home when the thefts occurred.
Detectives say Fleenor and St. Marie forged the victim’s checks and cashed several at area banks, stealing more than $3,000, the sheriff’s report said. The victim also found out she was behind on her bills and the couple had been shredding her bills so she wouldn’t find out. The thefts were discovered when the victim’s daughter found checks made out to St. Marie and asked her mother about them. The victim told deputies she never gave the couple permission to use her checks.
Deputies arrested Fleenor on a driving with a suspended license Thursday, and served her with warrants of scheme to defraud and uttering a forged instrument at the Manatee County jail. She is being held there on $23,000 bond. St. Marie has not been arrested.
Disclaimer: Story comments are intended to provide a place for constructive dialog about issues and events in our community. Your input is encouraged and can make a positive difference. To achieve this, no obscenity, personal attacks, or racial slurs are tolerated. Users brought to our attention for violating our terms of use will be blocked from commenting permanently and without notice. Please help keep the comments on topic by flagging objectionable material and remember that children and young adults may be reading your comments. With freedom of speech comes the responsibility to be respectful of others.
Email Story
Printer Friendly 
Quick Job Search
@Nyx.replyAnswerText@