BRADENTON — Bradenton police detectives arrested a man on charges he spit on two women and beat a man with a pistol in the street more than two weeks ago, according to police reports.
Willie Harris Jr., 29, was arrested after giving a statement to police at the Bradenton Police Department, during which he admitted to repeatedly punching a man in the face.
The incident occurred on June 15, in the 600 block of 19th Street East, when two women said Harris spit on them as he rode by on a bicycle. A man who told police he saw Harris spit on the women, confronted him and a fight ensued.
Harris said the victim shoved him first, while the victim said Harris punched him first. The victim suffered 13 stitches after claiming Harris punched him in the face and repeatedly pistol whipped him. Harris denied hitting the victim with a pistol.
Police arrested Harris Wednesday on two counts of battery and a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was being held in the Manatee County jail on $76,500 bond.
Pit bull shot with Taser in scuffle with police
MANATEE — A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot a dog with a Taser stun gun during a scuffle with a man deputies were trying to arrest on an outstanding warrant, according to sheriff’s reports said.
Sheriff’s reports said at 7:15 a.m. they tried to arrest a man wanted on a grand theft warrant, in the 3500 block of Seventh Avenue West. Deputies said when Matthew McCarthy, 28, resisted his arrest, his pit bull jumped into the fray.
But the dog bit his owner first before turning on a deputy. The dog didn’t make it to the deputy before being shot with a Taser. Deputies then took McCarthy into custody on charges of resisting arrest without violence and violation of probation. The dog escaped back into McCarthy’s house, the sheriff’s report said.
— Robert Napper
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