Crime & Safety

Victim: Man Chased Me Around Sarasota Boat Ramp with Tire Iron

A man wielding a tire iron was arrested Saturday evening for allegedly chasing another man around Centennial Park because he had broken up a fight between the aggressor and a one-armed man.

A man wielding a tire iron was arrested Saturday evening for allegedly chasing another man around Centennial Park because he had broken up a fight between the aggressor and a one-armed man.

Abel Rodriguez, 3000 block of Hillview St., Sarasota, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, after he allegedly chased the victim around the boat ramp, according to the Sarasota Police Department.

Officers responded to Centennial Park, 1059 N. Tamiami Trail, in reference to a fight, a report said. Upon arrival, they met with the victim who told them Rodriguez started fighting with the man with one arm, and he had broken up the fight, a report says.

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He said Rodriquez then went to his vehicle and retrieved a tire iron and began chasing him around the boat ramp with it. Multiple witnesses saw the incident and Rodriguez admitted getting the tire iron from his vehicle and attempting to strike the victim with it.

He was taken to Sarasota County Jail and later released.

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