Thank you for visiting The islander Newspaper Online.

We are currently updating our website to provide you better service and function.
If you would like to access the new site, please, click here: The islander Newspaper

Sorry for any inconvenience. Our new site and service will resume shortly.

Web Master

The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992

"The Award Winning & Best News on Anna Maria Island, FL Since 1992"

Tuesday, Mar, 19, 2024
Florida Press Assn. Award-Winning Web Site
Home Latest News Weather Sports Real Estate Classifieds Island Guide islander Store

 SECTIONS

 • 

Main News

 • 

Classifieds

 • 

Opinions

 • 

Streetlife

 • 

Calendar

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Sports

 • 

Real Estate

 • 

Obituaries

 • 

Weather

 Features

 • 

Cortez Cook Off: The Results

 • 

Anna Maria Island Bridge FDOT replacement bridge

 • 

National Hurricane Center (Atlantic)

 • 

Advanced Search

 • 

I love AMI

 • 

Mystery Story

 • 

Fishing Laws

 Classifieds

 • 

Classifieds Page

 • 

Place An AD

 • 

Items for Sale

 • 

Garage Sale

 • 

Estate Sale

 • 

Announcments

 • 

Lost & Found

 • 

Pets

 • 

Transportation

 • 

Boats & Boating

 • 

Fishing

 • 

Kids 4 Hire

 • 

Help Wanted

 • 

Health Care

 • 

Services

 • 

Lawn & Garden

 • 

Landscaping

 • 

Home Improvement

 • 

Business Opportunities

 • 

Rentals

 • 

Real Estate

 Weather

 • 

Today's Forecast

 • 

10 Day Forecast

 • 

Today's Tides

 • 

Emergency e-mail

 • 

Storm Watch

 Archive

 • 

News Archive

 • 

2009 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2008 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2007 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2006 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2005 Top Notch Gallery

 • 

2004 Top Notch Gallery

 Useful Links

 • 

Island Links

 • 

i.wed

 • 

islander Store

 • 

About this Site

 Contact Us

 • 

islander Store

 • 

Subscribe

 • 

About Us

 • 

e-mail us

Story Tools

Charges dismissed in blown-kiss case

A judge last week recently dismissed a felony charge against a teenager arrested in connection with an alleged scuffle with a police officer on Coquina Beach.

Days later a juvenile judge dismissed the case against the teenager’s brother, also arrested in the incident.

During a hearing Sept. 16, Circuit Judge Diana Moreland dismissed the felony charge of battery on a law enforcement officer filed against Veronica Lewis.

Moreland, however, did find probable cause for a misdemeanor simple battery case against the teenage girl, whose brother, Lance Lewis, 14, also was arrested in the incident on April 20.

The scuffle occurred after Lance Lewis blew a kiss toward Officer Timothy Matthews, who was then a reserve officer with the Bradenton Beach Police Department but has since left for another law enforcement job.

Matthews wrote in his arrest report that he asked Lance Lewis “what his problem was and he said, ‘I don’t have a problem N…’ I asked why he would blow me a kiss and he said, ‘F… you.’ There were many young children in the area.”

When Matthews began to arrest Lance Lewis for disorderly conduct, Veronica Lewis tried to intervene.

Moreland, in her ruling on a defense request to dismiss the case against Veronica Lewis, said the teenage girl put her palms on Matthews’ chest, acting to protect her brother.

Matthews told the girl to move, grabbed Lance Lewis and put him on the ground to handcuff him.

Veronica Lewis next pulled on Matthews’ lapel and scratched the officer’s lip. Veronica Lewis was then arrested for battery on a police officer.

Moreland said Matthews lacked reasonable suspicion that Lance and Veronica Lewis were involved in criminal activity.

As of islander press time, prosecutors had not decided whether to pursue the misdemeanor charge against Veronica Lewis.

But a juvenile court did act to dismiss the case against Lance Lewis, arrested charges of battery on a police officer and disorderly conduct.

Judge Marc Gilner dismissed the charges in a hearing Sept. 18 after finding that the police officer lacked probable cause to make the arrest.

Get breaking news

Follow the islander on TwitterBecome a fan of The islander on Facebook

Sign up to receive breaking news alerts via e-mail. We'll send you a notice when the news and classifieds appear online every week, before the print edition hits the streets.

Click here for Gulf oil spill updates related to Anna Maria Island.

Historic Anna Maria City Pier Plank Walk

Put your name, your message, your memorial on the Historic Anna Maria City Pier prior to the Pier Centennial Celebration! And join the fun!

CLICK HERE for Stoltzfus e-mails and related court documents.


FREE Island
Vacation Guide:
get it here

Cortez Cookoff

Click here for 2010 Cortez Cookoff Winner and recipes

To advertise here, please
visit our rates page
or contact us at:
sales@islander.org
Phone: (941) 778-7978
Fax: (941) 778-9392

Back to top of Page

Home | Weather | Real Estate | Classifieds | Archives | Contact | Island Links
islander Store | Subscribe About this site | Classifieds Page | Place an Ad
For Sale | Garage Sales | Announcements | Lost & Found | Pets | Transportation
Boats & Boating | Fishing | Kids for Hire | Help Wanted | Health Care | Services
Lawn & Garden | Landscaping | Home Improvement | Business Opportunities | Rentals | Real Estate

Our Privacy and Copyright Statements © 1992 - 2009, The islander