Police Standoff Leads to Arrest

A 28-year-old Sarasota man faces a charge of battery on a police officer, after a standoff Wednesday night with Sarasota Police.

According to a press release from the Sarasota Police Department, officers were summoned to the University Oaks Apartments on Old Bradenton Road, after a man "became combative."

According to police, EMTs were trying to transport Erich Zimmer to the hospital, after he told paramedics he was suicidal and needed help.

According to the press release: "Zimmer refused to be belted into the stretcher, jumped out of the ambulance and ran back into his apartment," where he had an altercation earlier in the evening with his roommate. 

Zimmer then called 911, while officers were outside, to say that he had a knife and would use it if authorities tried to enter, police said. Neighbors also told police that they believed Zimmer owned a gun.

Sarasota Police Department's SWAT Team and the Crisis Negotiation Team were called to the scene to attempt to contact Zimmer and check on his roommate's well being. 

The bull horn and the P. A. system were used in an attempt to make contact with Zimmer. Two loud bangs were heard by officers and neighbors in the vicinity of Zimmer’s apartment.

A decision was made for the SWAT Team to enter the apartment.  With the apartments closest to Zimmer’s apartment evacuated, the SWAT Team made entry through the front door of Zimmer’s apartment and, upon moving through the apartment, located both Zimmer and the other male. 

Both were found to be unharmed.  Zimmer was taken into custody and charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer as he fought the officer taking him into custody, causing minor injury to the officer. 

He is in the Sarasota County Jail at this time. The other male in the apartment was taken to the Sarasota Police Department, where he was interviewed about the incident and released.       

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