Screaming and Pistol Incident Lead to Arrests of Palm Harbor Men at Area Bars, Deputies Say

Two Palm Harbor men may have intended to have a good time at local bars, but their outings were cut short when deputies handcuffed them and took them to jail.

John Michael Bonanno and Christopher Scott Collins, who are both 25-years-old and Palm Harbor residents, were arrested on June 30 in separate incidents.

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies say Christopher Collins confronted his girlfriend at Boyle's Backyard Neighborhood Bar and Grill in Palm Harbor and began accusing her of having sex with one of the men who was seated with her at a table. Collins then grabbed the man around the chest and pulled out a 9 m.m. semi-automatic pistol he had concealed in his pants and pointed the gun at the man, according to an arrest affidavit.

Bar patrons wrestled the gun away from Collins. Deputies say Collins was intoxicated and denied being at the bar and owning a pistol, even though two of the witnesses were his girlfriend and best friend.

Collins was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on one charge of improper exhibition of a dangerous weapon and one charge of disorderly conduct. He was released after posting $300 bond.

Deputies say they arrested John Bonanno at Shephard's Beach Resort on Clearwater Beach after security at the bar asked Bonanno to leave, but he refused. Bonanno was intoxicated and screaming and yelling and trying to start fights with patrons at the bar, according to an arrest affidavit.

Deputies arrested Bonanno and booked him into the Pinellas County Jail on one charge of disorderly conduct. He was released from jail after posting $250 bond.

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