Disappointed customer, 2 others arrested after sex dispute
Disappointed customer, 2 others arrested after sex dispute
MANATEE -- Two men and a woman were arrested after they refused to let a woman leave a residence because she wouldn't perform sexual acts, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.
Gregory Hodges, 53, met the victim through a website called Backpage, which allows people to post classifieds, including for escort services. The site disclaimer: Users should report any illegal activity such as prostitution.
Hodges paid the woman $500 for her "companionship for the night," after she arrived in the 300 block of Coquina Drive at 4 a.m. Sunday, according to the arrest report. Hodges became upset because she refused to sleep with him.
Hodges demanded his money back and the woman refused. She tried to leave the house but Hodges and David Martin, 60, blocked the front door, deputies said.
The woman said she would give half the money back if they let her leave and the men refused, according to the report. Martin reportedly pointed a loaded silver firearm at her and said: "He was going to scalp her."
The woman tried to leave through the living room door but Tracy Kirk, 45, locked the door.
Law enforcement was called and arrested Kirk, Hodges and Martin.
Martin was charged with aggravated assault and false imprisonment. He was held in the Manatee County jail on bonds totaling $51,500.
Hodges and Kirk were charged with false imprisonment. and released from Manatee County jail on $1,500 bonds.
FHP: Person dies in Tuesday morning crash
EAST MANATEE -- A fatal accident occurred at 8:19 p.m. Tuesday on Pope Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash was near the intersection of Pope Road and State Road 64, east of Interstate 75. It blocked State Road 64 at the intersection for a time.
At least one person died in the crash. No other details were immediately available.
Man crashes into tree after medical episode
MANATEE -- A 72-year-old man was critically injured in Manatee County about 8:40 a.m. Tuesday when he crashed his car into a tree after suffering a medical episode, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened about on The Park Boulevard north of University Parkway.
The medical issue caused the driver to accelerate and crash his Cadillac into a tree, according to FHP.
He was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Palmetto man arrested after gun-waving incident in store
SARASOTA -- A 22-year-old Palmetto man faces numerous charges after he waved a gun inside a Sarasota store and fired it into the air about 9:15 p.m. Monday, according to Sarasota police.
Officers went to Moore's Grocery, 1993 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Sarasota. Caleb C. Spraggins was named as the man brandishing a gun, yelling profanity and telling customers he was going to get in the front of the line. When one of the customers asked Spraggins to stop, he reportedly pulled a loaded black semiautomatic pistol from his pocket.
As Spraggins was leaving, he fired a shot into the air while traveling southbound on Washington Court. A short time later, officers saw Spraggins running into an apartment in 2400 block of Valerie Lane.
During a search, officers found a .45-caliber handgun reported stolen out of Bradenton.
Spraggins has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, gun theft, resisting arrested and firing a gun in public.
Anyone with information on this case, can call the Sarasota Police Department at 941-316-1199 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477) or go to sarasotacrimestoppers.com
-- Herald staff reports
This story was originally published February 2, 2016 at 7:21 PM with the headline "Disappointed customer, 2 others arrested after sex dispute ."