Police: Cross-Dresser Stabbed Man in Chest

Just before 1 a.m., a passerby told officers a man had been stabbed in the chest near 16th Street and North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, according to a report.

When officers responded, they found  the victim holding his chest, the report said. He told the officers he was just stabbed by a transvestite, the report states.

The victim told officers he pulled over to pick up the female, now known as Ricardo Toro, since he believed her to be another female named Jessica. Once in the car, the victim realized it was not Jessica and asked Toro to get out of the vehicle immediately twice, grabbing the end of his wooden baton, according to a report. 

Toro pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the arm and chest, then took the keys to the ignition and threw them from the vehicle, the report said. The victim told officers, Toro left the vehicle and started walking southbound on North Tamiami Trail, a report said. Thinking Toro still had the keys, the victim got out of the vehicle to confront the man in drag, the report states.

The victim was then confronted by Toro's boyfriend, Josh Gaudette, outside the vehicle. Gaudette was unaware of the stabbing but saw Toro and the victim in an argument and punched the victim in the side of the head.

Toro was arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery with a deadly weapon and Gaudette was arrested and charged with Battery.