Sarasota Police Investigate Officer-Involved Shooting

SARASOTA, FL -- Sarasota Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting at 2515 12th St., Sarasota, that took place Monday, April 2, at 12:52 a.m

Sarasota Police Officer Adam Arena and Officer Jonathan Torres, who is currently in field training, were patrolling an area around the 2100 block of 13th Street where two business burglaries and two car burglaries have occurred since March 28.

At 2515 12th St., Sarasota, they spotted Thomas Gick, 35, of Bradenton riding a bike without lights. When the officers attempted to speak with Gick, he pulled off the street and into a parking lot between two closed businesses. As the officers approached, he reportedly pulled a weapon from his waist band. Arena then fired his department-issued weapon, hitting Gick in both legs. Gick's weapon turned out to be a realistic-looking Powerline CO2 .177 caliber BB gun.

Both Arena and Torres began first aid until the Sarasota County Fire Rescue arrived. Gick was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where he's expected to survive.

In accordance with Sarasota Police Department policy, Arena has been placed on paid administrative leave. No officers were injured. Arena has been with the Sarasota Police Department since 2011.

Gick will be transported to the Sarasota County Jail and charged with one count aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Gick has prior arrests in Manatee County for domestic battery (2011), possession of drugs without a prescription (2012) and violation of pretrial Release (2011).

It's unclear if Gick was involved in the burglaries in the area in which mostly tools were stolen.

Images via Sarasota Police