A Bradenton Beach man arrested outside an ice cream shop March 18 is accused of spitting on a police officer while in custody.
Bradenton Beach Police Officers Steven Masi and Charles Marose arrested Edward Thomas Kalinoski, 68, March 18 for alleged battery on a law enforcement officer and disturbing the peace.
Masi and Marose had responded to complaints from employees at Island Scoops ice cream shop, 103B Gulf Drive N., about a man in the store verbally abusing employees and customers. The man, later identified as Kalinoski, also allegedly grabbed an employee’s arm.
Outside the store, Kalinoski continued to verbally assault people, according to a BBPD report.
Store employees told officers they did not want to press charges but they did want Kalinoski trespassed, as he appeared to be intoxicated.
But when officers advised Kalinoski he was being detained for allegedly disturbing the peace, he became belligerent and irate, assuming a fighting posture, the BBPD report stated.
The officers attempted to place Kalinoski in handcuffs and, after a scuffle on the ground, the man was arrested and transported to the police station.
After the scuffle, Kalinoski had what appeared to be a small cut on his forehead, the report stated.
At the police station, when Masi asked Kalinoski to face him so he could treat the cut, Kalinoski allegedly swore and spit in Masi’s face, which resulted in a new charge, that of battery on a law enforcement officer.
Kalinoski was taken to the Manatee County jail and released on $1,620 bail.
He is set to appear in court April 4.
Under Florida law, battery of a law enforcement officer is a third-degree felony, with penalties of up to five years in prison or five years of probation and a $5,000 fine.
—Robert Anderson