Bradenton Beach police responded to an early morning fight July 5 involving an off-duty officer.
Daniel P. Gilliland, 36, and Brittany Codella, 28, sustained minor injuries following an altercation with BBPD Officer Mike Bazell outside the Sports Lounge, 118 Bridge St., and in the 200 block of Bay Drive North.
No arrests were made and Gilliland, Codella and Bazell signed waivers of prosecution and refused medical attention.
Officers Roy Joslin, Tom Ferrara and Steve Masi responded and separated and interviewed the parties.
According to Joslin’s report, Bazell told police he was at the Drift Inn, next door to the Sports Lounge, when he observed a fight in front of the bar.
Bazell said he identified himself as an off-duty officer and told a man, later identified as Gilliland, to return to the bar with his bottle of beer.
Gilliland allegedly struck Bazell’s arm with the bottle. It shattered and cut Bazell.
The off-duty officer grabbed and took Gilliland to the ground, according to the report.
Bazell told police that due to the “commotion,” Gilliland was the only person he could recall touching.
Gilliland allegedly told police he was jumped by Clyde Walker, listed as being from Bradenton and homeless, outside the Sports Lounge, before Bazell yelled at and struck his friend, Codella.
According to the police report, Codella said she was between Gilliland and Walker when she observed Bazell approach.
Codella said she told Bazell, “Are you going to hit a girl now?” the report stated.
Codella told police Bazell hit her in the jaw, at which time she called 911 and ran away.
Walker allegedly told police he never jumped Gilliland and Bazell “never put his hands on anyone.”
Officers also spoke to the Sports Lounge bartender and door man. They told police they had not witnessed the disturbance.
As people dispersed, the report stated, Gilliland was heard yelling as he boarded his sailboat at the end of Bridge Street, calling Bazell a derogatory name and making threats.
New policy results from officer brawl
Off-duty officers can no longer drink alcohol in Bradenton Beach bars that don’t serve food.
Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale announced the new policy after a July 5 fight involving off-duty BBPD Officer Mike Bazell.
Bazell had been at the Drift Inn, 120 Bridge St., before the altercation.
“It includes me, too,” the chief said about the policy. He acknowledged he’s a Bradenton Beach resident who has gone to the bars and left after one or two drinks.
“If they want to go have dinner and have a couple of drinks (in Bradenton Beach), that’s fine. But if they want to just drink, they will need to go somewhere else,” Speciale said.
The new policy will prevent the “awkward position” and “bad spot” officers can be put into when drinking is involved, he said.
Speciale said it was fortunate the beer bottle hit only Bazell’s arm, not his head.
Bazell has not been disciplined in connection with the fight, he said.
Bazell was recognized in May 2015 with a 2014 Manatee 100 Club certificate.