MANATEE — Two men report being robbed while visiting a house of prostitution Thursday.
According to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report, both men at first reported being robbed on the street, one at Pride Park in the 6300 block of Ninth Street East, and the other in the 6300 block of 15th Street East.
After investigators questioned the two men, inconsistencies with their stories were detected. Both of the men eventually said they went to visit the house of prostitution in the 5700 block of 12th Street East, at different times.
When the first man entered the home at about 5 p.m. Thursday, five to eight men, one armed with a handgun, confronted him.
The suspects took the man’s money, about $40, and the keys to his Chevy Blazer, before tying him with his shoelaces and placing him a back room.
The other victim went to the house at about 8:40 p.m. and also was confronted by five to eight men.
They took his money, about $700, and the keys to his Cadillac Escalade.
The man was tied up with his shoelaces and put into the back room, where there were about four or five other men, also tied up.
The victims managed to free themselves and escape, then called law enforcement. When deputies arrived at the house, they found it empty.
Thief steals $400K in beef at motel
MANATEE — A semi-truck and refrigerated trailer holding about $400,000 in beef was stolen from the parking lot of a local motel Friday afternoon, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver had gone into the Ramada Limited motel in the 5200 block of 17th Street East about 2 p.m. to check in and left the truck unlocked. When he returned, the truck and trailer were gone, according to the sheriff’s office.
There were no witnesses or any video recording of the theft available, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputy hits drug suspect with Taser
MANATEE — A suspected drug dealer attempting to flee was hit with a Taser before being arrested Thursday.
According to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies responded to a report of a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road at about 11:35 p.m. Thursday in the 800 block of 29th Street East.
As a deputy approached the silver Chrylser 300M that was blocking the roadway, the driver jumped out and ran.
The deputy gave chase and the suspect, identified as Harry D. Siplin, 27, tripped and fell. As the deputy began to handcuff the suspect, he broke away and started to run away again.
As he was running, the deputy saw Siplin toss a bag of cocaine to the ground, before he discharged his Taser, hitting Siplin in the middle of his back, according to the report.
Siplin fell to the ground, and the deputy again tried to handcuff the suspect, but he broke away and began running again. But Siplin tripped and fell a second time, where the deputy was able to handcuff him.
He was charged with possession with intent to sell or distribute drugs, driving with a suspended license, and resisting arrest.
Siplin was being held in the Manatee County jail on a $6,250 bond.
Police dog bites homeless burglary suspect
MANATEE — A police dog bit a homeless man who was suspected of burglarizing a home Thursday.
According to a Manatee County Sheriff’s report, Cole T. Roach, 21, who is homeless, was seen breaking into a home at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday in the 500 block of 23rd Avenue East.
Cole was familiar with the home, because he had stayed there overnight a couple of weeks ago. When the resident returned home, she saw Roach run out of the back door.
He returned back to the scene of the crime and was apologizing when the sheriff’s deputies arrived, according to the report.
Cole began to run and the deputies tracked him with a police dog. When he failed to stop, the dog was set lose and bit him.
Roach was treated and released at Lakewood Ranch Hospital before being arrested. He was being held at the county jail on $10,750 bond.
— Carl Mario Nudi and Marc R. Masferrer
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