Violent crime seemed to take a vacation on Anna Maria Island on Labor Day weekend — with the exception of one incident in Holmes Beach at the Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive.
A 29-year-old Bradenton man walking to his car with two young children was attacked at 2:25 p.m. Sept. 6 by three men in the beach parking lot — one who came from behind with a handgun, according to a Holmes Beach Police Department report.
The victim’s son called out for him to “look out,” according to the report.
As the victim fought off the first attacker, a second man grabbed his arms and a third man tried to grab him around his legs, according to the HBPD report.
All three aggressors then allegedly ran to the north end of the parking lot and got into a maroon, late-90s Ford Ranger.
The report also states the suspects were overheard on their cellphones talking about “getting some of their friends to come there.”
The report states the victim grabbed his kids and ran to the lifeguard stand, where Manatee County Marine Rescue called HBPD and emergency medical service personnel, who treated the victim’s injuries.
HBPD Detective Sgt. Brian Hall said the act appeared to be random, the state’s child protective services were not called and no additional reports have come in after HBPD issued an alert for the vehicle and the attackers.
Asked generally about the holiday weekend, Hall said, “because of the weather, the beach wasn’t busy at all.”
According to the website Weather Underground, 1.21 inches of rain fell Sept. 5, .82 inches fell Sept. 6, and Labor Day rain measured .74 at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
The weekend was quiet due to the on-again, off-again rain, according to Bradenton Beach Police Department Officer John Tsakiri.
“The crowds we had were very manageable,” said BBPD Chief Sam Speciale.
Marine Rescue Chief Joe Westerman also reported a quiet weekend — “weather played a major factor,” including closures for lightning.
Manatee County Sheriff’s Sgt. Paul Davis, who heads the Anna Maria substation, said it was a weekend without incident.