A 58-year-old Bradenton man and a 25-year-old homeless woman were arrested for different reasons in Anna Maria Bayfront Park.
According to a probable cause affidavit from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy approached the two at about 1:45 a.m. Nov. 5, when the park was closed. One of the two, Brandi Lea Sparrow, was reportedly wanted on out-of-county warrants.
The deputy said she initially gave a false last name and began to run, but tripped and fell. Sparrow was then taken into custody and charged with a misdemeanor resisting arrest.
After her arrest, the deputy questioned Sparrow’s boyfriend, Robert James Nuffer, of Bradenton, who reportedly consented to two searches, according to the affidavit.
First, Nuffer was patted down for weapons and, in a second search, he emptied his pockets onto the deputy’s squad car. A pink plastic bag with less than 1 gram of cocaine allegedly fell out.
After the officer read Nuffer his Miranda rights, he allegedly told police he did not buy the drug on the island.
He was charged with third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance. Nuffer posted $1500 bond and was released from Manatee County jail, with a court date of Nov. 21.
A $500 bond and Dec. 9 court date were set for Sparrow. She remained in county jail at Islander press time.