Crime & Safety

Man Allegedly Bites, Spits on Police Officer

Treasure Island Police say a St. Pete man spit and bit a police officer in the parking lot of the Treasure Island Police Department.

Treasure Island Police say 29-year-old John Whaley spit and bit a police officer twice while handcuffed in the parking lot of the Treasure Island Police Department.

Police were attempting to put Whaley in a secure seat belt and put a spit hood on him when he allegedly attacked the officer May 19. 

Whaley, of St. Petersburg, bit through Office Zak Dorman's glove to bite his right palm and right middle finger, which caused his skin to split and possibly caused a fracture, police said. 

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According to Whaley's arrest affidavit, police were attempting to secure him after he began screaming 'f this' and 'f you' in the backseat of a police cruiser while kicking the passenger door of the police car and banging his head against the car. 

Whaley was originally arrested for a domestic-related incident at that happened at Treasure Island Beach. 

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Police said Whaley was "yelling the beach with his girlfriend and walked towards (the) parking lot screaming if her windows were up he was going to 'bust 'em out."

According to the affidavit police tried to speak with Whaley during the altercation, but Whaley took off. 

After being stopped by police, Whaley was taken into custody and transported to the Treasure Island Police Department, where the biting incident took place. 

Whale was originally charged with resisting arrest without violence but was then subsequently charged with battery of a law enforcement officer. He was released from jail on $5,150 bond. 

According to jail records, Whaley has previously been charged with resisting arrest with violence, criminal mischief, sale of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license, obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, aggravated battery and felony battery. 

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