A judge denied a motion July 6 that would have allowed an alleged Holmes Beach hostage-taker non-harmful contact with his mother.
Gerald “Gary” Harles II, 30, used to live at home with his parents, Judy and Gerald Harles.
The events leading to the courtroom began May 31, when Gary Harles’ parents called 911 several times about their son tearing up their house in the 500 block of 68th Street and, in a call from the father, police were told their son was threatening to kill them — prompting more than 40 units from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and Holmes Beach Police Department to respond.
In first call, Judy Harles said she was afraid and forced into a bathroom because her son was breaking doors into pieces.
With her son in the courtroom, Judy Harles testified she did not feel threatened by him and he did not have a weapon the morning of May 31.
Attorney Peter Lombardo, on behalf of Harles II, filed the motion to allow non-harmful contact with his mother.
Twelfth Circuit Judge Deno Economou denied the request and responded to Judy Harles’ testimony, saying her son had loaded a round into a gun and was a threat in an apparent reference to a HBPD statement filed in the court record.
“Now you’re saying it didn’t happen,” the judge said, adding he would’ve granted the motion had she told the truth.
“You can’t do this. It’s costing me a $1,000 a week in a hotel,” Judy Harles said as she left the stand.
As Judy Harles left the courtroom, her son followed.
After the hearing, Assistant State Attorney Darlene Ragoonanan said she was prepared to present evidence but there was no need because of the judge’s quick denial.
Judy Harles filed a waiver of prosecution June 8, denying she was threatened by her son.
In HBPD’s initial report on the incident, Sgt. Kevin Powers wrote that Judy Harles met him at the front door and, looking over her shoulder, saw Harles II, coming from a hallway with a rifle or shotgun in his hands. Powers stated that “he saw and heard what appeared (to be) a round being placed in the chamber.”
Powers and other officers retreated.
Dispatch informed the officers that Harles’ parents were afraid to leave “for fear of being shot by Gary,” according to an HBPD report.
Harles’ parents exited the home after their three-hour ordeal, which began at 3:30 a.m. when the son came home drunk with friends, according to Judy Harles’ initial statement.
Gary Harles was arrested for aggravated assault and taken into custody on exiting the home at 10 a.m.
He was released from Manatee County jail June 7 and the no-contact order was part of his pretrial release.
Formal charges have not been filed by the prosecutor. The state attorney office has 175 days from an arrest to file a felony charge and 90 days to file a misdemeanor charge.