Tropicana Plant Shooting, Kidnapping Suspect Arrested: Police

BRADENTON, FL — The suspect in the shooting of a coworker at Bradenton’s Tropicana plant and the kidnapping of another coworker last summer was arrested early Tuesday, authorities said.

Demetrius Bell, 51, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, armed kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a Bradenton Police Department news release.

On June 5, Bell went into the plant after his scheduled shift and shot a coworker, seriously injuring him.

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He then forced a female coworker to leave with him. She was released in Hillsborough County two days later, police said.

Bell has been on the run since then.

Bradenton police received information Monday that he had returned to the city.

He ran from officers who tried to take him into custody, but with the help of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit, he was spotted clinging to a storage facility’s roof in the 2800 block of Manatee Avenue E.

He was eventually arrested by police without incident and booked into Manatee County Jail.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s office and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office’s K9 Unit also helped with the search.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Jeff Beckley at jeff.beckley@bradentonpd.com or 941-932-9356. To remain anonymous and eligible for a cash
reward of up to $3,000, call Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477 or submit a tip at
manateecrimestoppers.com.