Man ‘Hogtied,’ Beaten With Dog Chain: Cops

SARASOTA, FL — A 29-year-old man described as a transient faces criminal charges after Sarasota Police say he hogtied another man with a dog chain, beat him and threatened him with knifes to find out where his “homeboy” might be.

The announcement of Lamar A. Morris arrest on aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment charges was made Thursday, May 18. Police say the incident that led to those charges took place on May 12 after the alleged victim escaped captivity and called 911.

The victim told police he was walking in the area of Martin Luther King Way and Dixie Avenue when a man he knew as “Low-Key” called out his name. The victim responded and walked up to “Low-Key,” who is Morris, an arrest report said. When he did, Morris reportedly asked the victim to tell him where “his boy” was at and where his “stuff” was, the arrest report said.

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Morris allegedly escorted the victim to a shed in the 2500 block of Dixie Avenue. Once inside, he’s accused of becoming more insistent about finding out his “homeboy’s” location. He reportedly told the victim he wasn’t going anywhere until his “stuff” turned up or his “homeboy” was brought to the location. “Otherwise you are going to die,” Morris, the report said, told the victim.

The victim told police Morris began placing knives on a table and picked up a “dog chain.” He’s then accused hogtying the victim’s hands behind his back, wrapping the chain so tightly around his neck the victim couldn’t breathe and then striking the man with the chain. As this was going on, police said other people came in and out of the shed. Those people have not been identified.

“Out of fear,” the victim gave Morris a false location for the “homeboy,” the report said. The man was able to get away and call 911 while Morris reportedly went to the false location. As he was trying to get out of the shed, the victim told police one of the other people tried to stop him, but was not successful.

Police have not yet released the identities of the other people allegedly involved. Authorities say additional charges and arrests are pending.

Morris, who listed his occupation as “entrepreneur” in Sarasota County Jail records, was charged on May 12 in the case. He was later released in lieu of $2,500 bond. The arrest was announced May 18.

No further information is available at this time.

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Booking photo courtesy of the Sarasota Police Department