Officer injured in scuffle with suspect

A Sarasota Police officer was injured Sunday when a suspect bit her and would not initially let go during a scuffle outside a grocery store.

Police said officers were searching for Darryl Williams, 36, of the 2800 block of Goodrich Avenue on an arrest warrant stemming from an incident the day before in which a pregnant woman reported being assaulted. Williams was spotted by officers the next day entering a store in the 1400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way. In trying to arrest Williams on charges of aggravated battery on a pregnant woman, police reported, he ran, leading to a scuffle. The female officer was not named but received a deep wound on her left hand as other officers hit Williams in an attempt to force him to release his bite. A male officer, who was not named, was spit on while officers struggled to put the now handcuffed Williams in the back of a patrol vehicle.

In addition to the original charge, Williams was charged with three additional felonies: n Aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer n Battery on a law enforcement officer n Resisting officer with violence with serious injury.

Say good-bye to Harmer

Former Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer is retiring from his latest role, that of town manager of Longboat Key, and the town is throwing him a good-bye party.

has committed to raise 50% of the cost, to be matched by public grants, penny sales tax revenue and Bayfront district tax increment financing revenue.

The proposed SPAC is a centerpiece of The Bay, which is being developed and managed by the Bay Park Conservancy.

The architect selection process to design the new performing arts center is currently underway, using an open public procurement process with community engagement and collaboration.

Harmer announced his retirement last summer and agreed to stay on to help Howard Tipton get started. That transition begins Monday, Jan. 30, but on Feb. 6, Town Hall wellwishers will present a farewell event from 10 a.m. to noon.

Harmer will be moving with his wife, Dee, to Winter Garden to be closer to his sons and grandchildren.

After announcing his intent to retire in June 2022, Harmer has often said that finishing his 38-year career in public service on Longboat Key was an “honor.”