BRADENTON — A local former high school baseball player who was drafted into the minor leagues was arrested and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol earlier this week.
Lawrence Cobb, who played for the Lakewood Ranch High School Mustangs before graduating in 2003, was observed running a red light at about 12:30 a.m. Monday in the 1000 block of Sixth Avenue West, according to a Bradenton Police Department report.
When Cobb, who was driving a silver Ford pickup, was pulled over, the police officer noticed a strong smell of alcohol on Cobb’s breath, along with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes.
Cobb, of the 100 block of Mill Run East, told the officer he had four beers, and drank the last one about 30 minutes before being stopped. During a sobriety test, Cobb could not maintain his balance, and refused to submit to a breath test, became upset, telling the officer, “He would find me later.”
Cobb, who turned 24 on Friday, played college baseball for Manatee Community College and the College of Charleston before the Oakland Athletics drafted him in 2006.
Cobb was released from the Manatee County jail on a $500 bond.
Man arrested in child molestation case
MANATEE — A 19-year-old man was arrested and charged with sexually molesting a girl when he was a juvenile.
According to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report, Andrew Rae, who was between 11-15 years old at the time of the alleged crime, was arrested Thursday after he admitted sexually touching the girl several times while she stayed overnight at a day care facility.
The girl was between 5-9 years old at the time.
Rae, who lives in the 3600 block of 75th Avenue Terrace East, was being held in the Manatee County jail without bail.
Man robbed at gunpoint in Publix parking lot
MANATEE — A 26-year-old man told deputies a robber held a gun to his head after he had placed his two young children in the car at Publix on Friday afternoon, according to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
The man said he exited the supermarket in the 6000 block of 14th Street West when a 5-foot-10-inch bandit in his 30s weighing about 200 pounds came up behind him.
The robber had a black and gray mustache. He was wearing a black polo shirt and long jean shorts.
When the man went around to open his car door, a silver hand gun was placed to the back of his head.
The man was told not to move.
The robber reached into his left rear pocket and removed his wallet.
The man, who was not injured, drove to a sheriff’s office location to report the robbery.
The robber was last seen heading west toward 60th Avenue West.
Anyone with any information can contact the sheriff’s office at 747-3011 or remain anonymous by calling Crimestoppers at (866) 634-TIPS (8477).
— Carl Mario Nudi and Beth Burger
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