Police: Homeless Man Shoved Guard, Took Swing at Officers

A homeless man is accused of shoving a security guard and taking a swing at police officers Wednesday at a Sarasota bus terminal, authorities said.

Leopold Lake, 41, was arrested after officers were called to the SCAT Bus Depot, 1525 1st St., around 8:18 p.m. on a report of a fight in progress.

When they got there, officials said, an SCAT security guard told them Lake had come to the terminal to try to get a bus pass after he had gotten into an argument with someone at City Hall.

When the guard told Lake he did not have a pass, "Lake became loud, yelling at the guard" and then shoving him, Officer Linda DeNiro, police spokesperson, wrote in a media release.

Lake is also accused of resisting arrest, swinging at the officers with his fist as they took him into custody, DeNiro said. 

Neither the officers nor the security guard was injured.

Lake is charged with assault on an officer, battery on an officer and resisting an officer with violence, according to online records. He was taken to the Sarasota County Jail, where he is being held on $21,500 bond.

Sign up for the Sarasota Patch email newsletter to get our top headlines delivered straight to your inbox so you won't miss a thing!