Bondsman Fires At Fleeing Suspect
A bail bondsman attempted to arrest Kyle Courtwright but Courtwright fled in his car and the bondsman fired at the suspect's car.
Updated April 20 3:38 p.m.
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is investigating why a bail bondsman decided to shoot at a fleeing suspect's car and where the suspect is now.
Bail bondsman Nathan Rockwell had attempted to arrest Kyle Courtwright, 30, at 3:50 p.m. Thursday at Blanche Place and 56th Street, but Courtwright fled in a car and Courtwright fired his gun, striking a tire on the vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.
Rockwell claims that Courtwright was trying to drive into him and hit his vehicle as Courtwright fled from the location, said Wendy Rose, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office. Courtwright has not been located at this time.
Courtwright is wanted for failing to appear in court for obstruction without violence, drive with a suspend license, and fleeing to elude law enforcement, the sheriff's office reported.
Rockwell pursued Courtwright to Whitfield Avenue and University Parkway where Courtwright stopped his vehicle and fled on foot southbound, the sheriff's office reported.
Responding deputies setup a perimeter in an attempt to locate Courtwright but he was never found.
Courtwright is described to be a white male, 5 feet 9 inches, 180 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Criminal Investigations Section at 941-861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477), online at www.crimestoppers.com.
liv barefootnit
9:09 am on Friday, April 20, 2012
Is this not excessive force? Is that the action a Sarasota city/county officer would or could take against a non violent offender? And then they (law enforcement) scoured the neighborhood & had a police helicopter circling for 5 costly hours...seems to me, it's the bail bondsman that they should have been more worried about!
Joel Parisi
11:39 am on Friday, April 20, 2012
First neighborhood watch guards are firing shots and now bondsman? Was his life endangered or is he just playing god over a few hundred dollars. Was the bondsman arrested and charged?
Charles Schelle
1:56 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
The Sheriff's Office is still investigating why the bondman fired at the car, but charges do not appear likely at this time, according to Wendy Rose from the sheriff's office.