Sarasota Man Arrested for Attempted Armed Robbery

                                                                                                             NEWS RELEASE #: 17-044 - FEBRUARY 17, 2017

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested a man after he hit a woman with a tire iron and tried steal her purse while she was parked at a gas pump in Sarasota.

Deputies were called to the Radiant gas station located at 5761 Bee Ridge Road just before 7:00 a.m., on Thursday, for reports of an attempted armed robbery. According to the victim, the suspect approached her while she was parked at a gas pump and demanded her purse. The suspect then struck her with a tire iron before fleeing southbound on Bee Ridge Road. Less than 20 minutes later, investigating deputies located the suspect's car in the parking lot of Walmart on Cattlemen Road. In plain view on the passenger seat, deputies saw the tire iron used in the battery. The incident was captured by surveillance video and is available to view on the sheriff's office YouTube channel at YouTube.com/SarasotaSheriff.

Gregory Scribner, of 439 Kumquat Ct., is charged with Attempted Armed Robbery and Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. His prior arrests include Burglary, Battery and Fraud. He remains in custody today at the Sarasota County Jail without bond.