Criminal Corner 10
Manatee Herald Staff Report
Bradenton man beats up his grandmother for drug money
A 34-year-old Bradenton man is charged with battering his disabled elderly grandmother when she refused to give him money for drugs, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 9, around 2 p.m., deputies say Erik Luebbe was at his grandmother’s house when he became angry after his grandmother would not give him the money he was demanding.
According to the arrest report, Luebbe threatened to punch his grandmother in the face, and eventually followed through on his threat while his grandmother was lying in bed.
Deputies say the grandmother tried to get into her wheelchair, at which time Luebbe pulled the wheelchair out from under his grandmother causing her to fall to the ground where she suffered further injuries.
Deputies responded to Luebbe’s place of employment where he was arrested. According to the report, deputies located over a gram of fentanyl on his person.
Luebbe was booked into the Manatee County jail on the battery charge, as well as a drug possession charge. He remains in custody on bonds totaling $3,000.
Man charged with attempted murder after attacking homeless couple in their sleep
A 35-year-old man is charged with attempted murder after attacking a homeless couple in their sleep in downtown Bradenton, according to police.
Bradenton police say John Lynch was arrested on July 10 just before 11 p.m. at his residence.
According to the police report, Lynch was observed by the female victim on July 9 as he walked past them to patronize downtown bars.
The victim told police that Lynch had warned them to be gone before he returned, “or it would be her or her dogs,” according to the report.
Police say Lynch did return, at which time he attacked the couple with paving bricks in front of the business where the couple was trying to sleep in the 600 block of 15th Street West.
The male victim suffered a broken arm, concussion and missing teeth. The female victim was beaten and choked, according to police.
According to the report, Lynch left behind a sneaker, his cell phone and his wallet with his drivers license at the scene, which police recovered and used to identify Lynch.
Police made contact with Lynch, who said the fight was mutual, but denied leaving any of his property behind. Police say they located the other sneaker in Lynch’s trash can and when confronted with his wallet and ID, refused to cooperate any further.
Lynch was booked into the Manatee County jail on several charges, including attempted murder, and remains in custody.
She was saving up to fix her car. Six-time felon put a gun in her face
A 35-year-old Bradenton man, and six-time convicted felon, is facing an armed robbery charge after robbing a woman at gunpoint, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say that on July 11 just before 5 p.m. Richard Morganstern entered the trailer where the victim was sleeping on a friend’s couch in the 600 block of 49th Avenue West.
Morganstern knew the victim and knew she had been saving up money to get her vehicle fixed, according to the report.
Deputies say Morganstern woke the victim and placed a gun in her face demanding the money.
Morganstern took the money and forced the victim out of the residence. Law enforcement was notified, according to the report.
Deputies arrived at the scene and despite several commands, could not talk Morganstern out of the trailer. Deputies made entry and located Morganstern hiding at the rear of the trailer and located the firearm in a nearby cabinet.
Morganstern was booked into the Manatee County jail on charges of armed robbery and felon in possession of a firearm. He remains in custody on bonds totaling $15,000.
