ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sushi Inc in downtown St. Petersburg has released two surveillance videos to Spectrum News of incidents that took place earlier this week, where a homeless man can be seen pushing a woman to the ground and then later allegedly breaking a large window.
What You Need To Know
Two restaurants and a luxury condo tower released surveillance videos of recent homeless encounters
The videos show battery, criminal mischief and public urination
St. Petersburg Police arrested an unhoused man, Kenneth Grey, 32, for allegedly breaking a Sushi Inc window on Tuesday
The Boley Centers is about to open a new 15-unit apartment complex just south of downtown for the hardest to reach individuals
The first incident happened at 10:10 p.m. on Monday. The video shows a man wearing a yellow shirt sleeping on the sidewalk in front of Sushi Inc As two women walk past. The man jumps up and violently shoves one of the women to the ground. That woman gets up and hits the man with her purse. A witness then runs up and confronts the homeless man.
“For no reason, just shoved her across the sidewalk,” said Sae Kim, Sushi Inc owner. “It was a pretty scary sight.”
The second incident happened at 3:48 a.m. on Tuesday, when the same man wearing the yellow shirt can be seen walking up the sidewalk, when he then rushes towards Sushi Inc and begins punching a large window. The man then walks away.
Kim reported the incidents to St. Petersburg Police and officers arrested Kenneth Grey, 32, on a felony criminal mischief charge later that same day. Officer Jason Hughes stated Grey was an unhoused person who is often in the area and was wearing the same clothes as seen on the video, according to an arrest affidavit.
Pinellas County Jail records show Grey has been arrested 23 times since 2016 on charges ranging from battery, sleeping in the right of way and disorderly conduct. St. Petersburg Police spokesperson Yolanda Fernandez said officers were able to make an arrest based on video evidence in this case because Grey was facing a felony charge. It’s some misdemeanor charges officers must witness in person to make an arrest or write a citation.
Fernandez said the woman who was attacked and pushed to the ground has not yet come forward to press charges. If she does, Grey could be facing another felony battery charge, according to police. Records show Grey was being held in jail on a $5,000 bond as of Friday.
Kim said Grey has punched his windows in the past, but this was the first time he actually broke one, and it was expensive to fix.
“About $1,600 just to get this patched up,” he said. “Pretty much a hassle.”
The Top Slice manager released a surveillance video from June 13, which he said shows a man sitting on top of an outdoor table and urinating through his pants during a busy night. Three women who are sitting nearby can be seen jumping up once they notice what’s happening. The manager said the man had been previously trespassed from the property.
Chris Pitts, the general manager of One St. Petersburg luxury condos, released a few surveillance videos and photos of recent problems with individuals he calls “social disrupters.”
A video from April 21, at 8:16 a.m., shows an enraged shirtless man walking down the sidewalk who picks up some rocks and throws them at large condo windows shattering the triple pane glass. The man then tries to enter the building, but the doors were locked and he moves on. Pitts said he was grateful there wasn’t a breach.
Another video from July 15, at 9:06 a.m., shows a woman wearing only a white robe drinking from a liquor bottle on the One property. Pitts said staff called the non-emergency police line and officers engaged the woman. The video shows as two officers are talking to the woman, she urinates on herself and then walks off. Pitts said while One supports the police, he was disappointed the woman wasn’t arrested or cited since it happened in front of the officers.
All the business and condo owners said they support Shiso Crispy owner Ronicca Whaley’s lawsuit against the city for allegedly not enforcing a state law banning public sleeping and camping. The city has a policy of not commenting on pending lawsuits.
The business and condo owners also want the city council to enact a Clean and Safe Program. The council is expected to take up the matter later this year.
The Boley Centers is a highly specialized organization that is tasked with serving the hardest to reach individuals, according to CEO and President Kevin Marrone. Specifically, individuals with severe mental and substance abuse problems. Marrone said it can take some time to gain their trust.
“We’ve worked with people that have been living in parking lots in downtown St. Pete on park benches and have been there for a year, two years,” he said. “We engage them through street outreach.”
Marrone said that later this month, there will be a grand opening for Founders Point, a brand-new 15-unit apartment building and people started moving in a few weeks ago.
“A majority of people that are homeless are not violating, making crimes, but what they are lacking is the necessary housing and support services,” he said. “So it is definitely the combination of housing and supports that makes this work successful.”
Marrone said the Boley Centers has a 90% engagement rate and low recidivism. The agency has 110 treatment beds in Pinellas County and more than 900 permanent supportive housing units.