Manatee deputies charge Bradenton man with burglary with assault

MANATEE -- A Bradenton man was charged with walking into a family's home and punching a resident as the victim tried to call for help, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Thomas Sharpe, 27, was arrested at 7:30 a.m. Thursday in the 4900 block of Lake Hill Court in Bradenton.

At 6:24 a.m., deputies said Sharpe walked into a house in the 900 block of 65th Avenue Drive West through an unlocked front door.

The victim was in bed when he saw Sharpe looking in the bedroom, and yelled for him to leave.

Sharpe told him the homeowner said he could come in the house. The victim told Sharpe he was calling the cops.

Sharpe punched the victim, who ran into the bedroom of his mother and stepfather for help. Deputies reported Sharpe continued to chase and hit the victim.

Sharpe then ran out of the home and fled recklessly in his car, almost hitting the victim as he backed up, the sheriff's office said. The homeowner told deputies Sharpe was not invited to the house or given permission to enter.

Sharpe was charged with burglary with assault, according to the sheriff's office website. He was held in Manatee County jail on $20,000 bond.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 7:40 PM with the headline "Manatee deputies charge Bradenton man with burglary with assault ."