Panhandlers get violent with each other over prime location

Manatee Herald Staff Report

A 54-year-old homeless man did not want another homeless man panhandling at his location, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say they were flagged down by the victim on the northeast corner of Tuttle Avenue and University Parkway in Manatee County on Nov. 14 just before 5:30 p.m.

According to the arrest report, Lawrence Farago and the victim argued over the location when Farago struck the victim in the head with a baseball bat during the argument.

Farago was booked into the Manatee County jail on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated battery. He remains in custody on bonds totaling $10,000.

Road rage leaves man jailed, woman injured

A 27-year-old man was arrested just before midnight on Nov. 14 in the 2300 block of 14th Street West after punching a woman during a road rage incident, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

Police say Jermaine Conaway and his girlfriend were arguing with the victim while sitting at a red light.

The victim tried to drive away and was cut off and blocked by Conaway, who got out of the vehicle, approached the victim who was inside her vehicle and began punching her through the open window, according to the arrest report.

Police say Conaway additionally stole the victim’s cell phone leading to an additional robbery charge.

Conaway was booked into the Manatee County jail on charges of possession of marijuana, battery and robbery. He was released the following day after posting bonds totaling $40,500.

Convicted sex offender back in jail on child porn charges

In documents obtained by the Manatee Herald, Randy Duane Hagedorn Jr. was arrested Nov. 4 on 20 counts of child pornography possession, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives say they received a tip on Feb. 10 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Detectives quickly linked Google email sites back to Hagedorn and learned he has been a convicted sex offender since 1980.

Using the sex offender registry, detectives learned Hagedorn was living at 1910 Sixth Ave. W., in Palmetto and executed a search warrant.

According to the unsealed arrest warrant, Hagedorn denied having any social media accounts and also told investigating deputies that he would not be able to provide the passwords to his electronic devices, which were seized during the search for forensic analysis.

The forensic investigation began in late June of this year and by July 8, the arrest warrant was issued for Hagedorn.

Detectives were able to determine that Hagedorn was using protected messaging apps like WhatsApp to join groups associated with sharing child pornography.

Among some of his bookmarked searches and search history on his computer were “darkweb resources collection, exclusive little baby,” and sites featuring, “young xxx videos,” to name a few.

Detectives noted that many of the websites Hagedorn was visiting are Russian URL’s.

The multiple sites Hagedorn visited featured young female children as young as 4 years old being posed naked, sexually abused by adults or being forced to have sex with other children.

Machete armed man attacks woman over drugs and money

A 61-year-old homeless man was arrested on the afternoon of Nov. 10 on aggravated assault charges related to an attack on his girlfriend in an area in the 5200 block of 14th Street West, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the arrest report, Figueroa and the victim were arguing over drugs and money the previous day when Figueroa threw her to the ground and began choking the victim inside their tent.

The victim managed to escape and Figueroa threatened her further. She fled the area with Figueroa in pursuit with a machete, deputies said.

The victim escaped and contacted law enforcement. Figueroa was booked into the Manatee County jail where he remains in custody on bonds totaling $4,500.

Woman beater threatens fire and murder

A 29-year-old Bradenton man residing in a halfway house and in a fairly new relationship was jailed on Nov. 10 after sending texts to his girlfriend that he would burn down her house with her children inside, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies additionally charged Dennis DeSantell with aggravated assault relating to an August incident with the victim where he put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.

According to the arrest report, the victim did not initially report the first incident out of fear for her and her children’s safety, but when DeSantell began threatening her again via text, she contacted law enforcement.

Deputies say DeSantell was accusing the victim of cheating on him in both instances.

According to the report, at least two threatening texts were sent to the victim threatening physical harm. Deputies say DeSantell told the victim via a SnapChat phone call that he was going to burn her house down with her children inside.

DeSantell was arrested on active warrants and booked into the Manatee County jail on additional charges of aggravated assault and sending written threats to kill or inflict bodily harm on another person.

DeSantell remains in custody on a $25,000 bond on his current charges and has a custody hold in place for 15 counts of violating felony probation and 14 counts of contempt of court.

She wouldn’t give him a cigarette, so he choked her

A 44-year-old Bradenton man became “irate” on Nov. 11 just before 11 p.m. when his girlfriend declined to give him a pack of cigarettes he knew was in her purse, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say Robert Ashford punched a washing machine and then approached the victim from behind, grabbing her around the neck.

The victim broke free and ran to a neighbor who called 911.

Ashford was booked into the Manatee County jail on a felony domestic battery by strangulation charge. He remains in custody without bond after violating his pretrial release conditions on a Sept. 24 domestic violence charge and contempt of court.