BRADENTON — The proposal to develop a community policing plan for downtown Bradenton is garnering a wider audience.
Tightening downtown security has the attention of Manatee County officials, the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority, the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, downtown businesses and other agencies.
While Old Main Street has its nightlife issues, the predominant point of conversation is curbing troubling behavior by the homeless — panhandling, harassing pedestrians on the street and at businesses, and using public spaces as restrooms.
And concerns are growing some homeless people are becoming more aggressive, according to Bradenton police Lt. Brian Theirs.
Pat Evans, an assistant manager at a gas station on First Street West, knows firsthand how aggressive some can be. On a recent Sunday, Evans approached a homeless man panhandling at the gas pumps after having been asked to leave the customers alone multiple times. Evans said the man became very aggressive “and spit in my face.”