3/7 Police Briefs: Wait staff nabs bandit after incident

BRADENTON — Bradenton Police arrested a man after he attempted to lunge across the counter and take cash from a restaurant employee Saturday morning, according to authorities.

Christopher J. Robbins, 20, reportedly entered Peach’s Restaurant, 5240 S.R. 64 E., just after 9 a.m. and told the cashier he needed change for a $50.

As the cashier reached for the cash, he reportedly lunged for the money and missed. He then ran out of the restaurant with a restaurant worker catching him.

Robbins was secured until police arrived and took him into custody. He faces charges of strong armed robbery and obstruction.

No one was injured.

Robbins was recently released from jail without bond for a charge of retail theft Feb. 14, according to the Manatee County jail Web site.

Woman charged with torturing dog

MANATEE — A 42-year-old woman was arrested on a warrant for torturing a dog this week after animal services found the emaciated and dehydrated animal on a tangled cable tied to a chain link fence in December.

Luisa A. Perro, who resides in the 1700 block of 32nd Avenue East in Bradenton, had the black lab mix wearing a steel choke chain collar that was “twisted so tight that the dog was gasping for air” and “embedded in the dog’s neck and there is a second wound on this dog’s neck where the chain was previously embedded,” according to the report.

Animal services had to use bolt cutters to remove the collar, according to the report.

The dog was taken to a veterinarian for treatment and admitted into the shelter. The dog eventually had to be put down because of its injuries, according to the report.

Authorities arrest alleged drug dealer after raid

MANATEE — A 19-year-old Bradenton man was arrested after authorities raided a residence and found 130 grams of oxycodone pills, blank prescription paper, 46 grams of cocaine and a variety of other pills, according to an arrest report.

Authorities from Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement also seized nearly $9,000 in cash from the residence in the 6600 block of Wellesley Drive in Bradenton on March 2.

Benjamin C. Stansbury, fled from law enforcement when the SWAT team entered the residence and was caught in the back yard.

Stansbury, who posted a $201,020 bond March 4 from jail, faces charges including obstruction, trafficking drugs and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

He told investigators he has been dealing since 1998. He obtains the drugs by using his prescription and passing counterfeit prescriptions, according to the report. He told authorities he keeps the proceeds in a safe deposit box.

Authorities obtained a search warrant for the box and seized approximately $89,0000.

Stansbury’s arraignment is scheduled for April 9.

Fire damages residence on Harvard Avenue West

MANATEE — Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue firefighters responded to a single-story fire that damaged a home this week, according to a statement released Saturday.

Firefighters were called to the 1300 block of Harvard Avenue West in Bradenton after a fire was started from an electrical space heater at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Two neighbors were treated for smoke inhalation and no one was transported.

There were four adults and one infant residing inside the home.

Occupants told firefighters the smoke detector was not working. Firefighters replaced the detector while on scene.

The home sustained approximately $6,500 in damage, according to the statement.

— Beth Burger