Holmes Beach police arrested Kevin McNamara, 35, of Bradenton, Oct. 20 for allegedly resisting a law enforcement officer with violence.
He also faces a first-degree misdemeanor charge for allegedly assaulting a law enforcement officer.
An officer found a man, later identified as McNamara, standing outside of Cheesecake Cutie and Cafe, 3324 E. Bay Drive, around 2 a.m., according to a Holmes Beach Police Department report.
The report stated that McNamara told the officer he was walking home and had stopped to meet a friend but there was nobody else there.
HBPD said McNamara was asked to provide identification and, when he could not find it, threw a bag at the officer and told him to search for the ID.
When the officer dumped the bag’s contents, McNamara allegedly became “upset” and approached the officer with clenched fists, twice saying, “Do something, bro.”
The officer took the gesture as a threat and told McNamara he was under arrest.
The report alleged that McNamara punched the officer, then the two grappled and, after they fell to the ground, McNamara grabbed the officer and refused to let go.
A backup officer arrived and the two handcuffed McNamara and transported him to the HBPD, where the officer documented injuries to himself and McNamara, who had a high heart rate and asked for medical attention.
Manatee County Emergency Medical Services responded and after EMS cleared McNamara, he was taken to the Manatee County jail, where he was released the same day on posting a $2,500 bond.
If convicted, punishment for resisting a law enforcement officer with violence, a third-degree felony, 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, one year of probation and a fine of up to $1,000.
On Oct. 23, assistant public defender Alexis Schad, representing McNamara, filed a plea of not guilty to the charges and demanded a jury trial.
An arraignment will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.