Holmes Beach police arrested Englewood resident David Laskowski, 54, June 24 on a third-degree felony for allegedly possessing methamphetamine, a controlled substance.
Laskowski also was charged with two first-degree misdemeanors for trespassing after a warning and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.
An officer found Laskowski walking around the concession area at Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, at about 4 a.m. — after closing hours — looking into the windows of closed businesses.
The officer approached Laskowski, who said he was looking for a water fountain but “was acting very strange and suspicious,” according to a police report.
The officer issued a verbal trespass warning to Laskowski, who left the area without an issue.
However, at about 10:43 p.m. later June 24, the officer responded to a Manatee County parks employee’s call about an intoxicated man sitting on a county-owned all-terrain vehicle and refusing to leave.
The officer found the complainant, who provided a sworn statement and pointed to the intoxicated man, identified as Laskowski.
The officer arrested Laskowski for trespassing at the beach after receiving a warning and searched the man, finding two plastic bags containing a white crystal substance and one bag containing a green leafy substance.
The officer transported Laskowski to the Holmes Beach Police Department for processing.
There, the officer tested the substances, which tested positive for meth and marijuana. The substances were placed in HBPD storage.
The officer then transported Laskowski to the Manatee County jail, where he remained in custody under $2,500 bond as of June 29.
If convicted, punishment for a third-degree felony charge includes up to five years in prison, five years of probation and a fine of up to $5,000.
Punishment for a first-degree misdemeanor includes up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Assistant public defender Vanessa Ayala filed a not-guilty plea and demanded a jury trial June 27 on behalf of Laskowski.
An arraignment will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.