Bradenton man charged with stealing MSO bicycle in Manatee stolen-bike sting

MANATEE -- A Bradenton man was charged with theft after taking a bike that didn't belong to him, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Alex F. Solis, 26, was arrested at 4:20 a.m. Tuesday in the 3600 block of 14th Street West. Deputies working an undercover operation involving recent thefts placed a sheriff's office-owned bicycle on the well-lit east side of 14th Street West. Deputies reported Solis was southbound on 14th Street West when he walked up to the bicycle, stared at it and looked around to see if anyone was watching. Solis picked up the bicycle to inspect it, set it back down and continued south. Deputies said he got to the intersection of 36th Avenue West and 14th Street West then turned back to retrieve the bicycle.

According to the sheriff's office, Solis began pushing the $500 bicycle southbound on 14th Street West. Deputies then arrested him.

Solis was charged with theft and released the same day from Manatee County jail on $1,500 bond, according to the sheriff's office website.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 7:43 PM with the headline "Bradenton man charged with stealing MSO bicycle in Manatee stolen-bike sting ."