Manatee bicyclist robbed; three women arrested

MANATEE — A 38-year-old man out for a bicycle ride Sunday night got a little more than he bargained for.

Three women were arrested after the Manatee man was robbed of his bicycle and phone at around 9:25 p.m. in the 200 block of 60th Avenue Terrace West, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Kirsten Corbin, 24, and Jessica Sargent, 26, remained in Manatee County jail Sunday night on bonds of $20,000 and $10,000, respectively, according to the sheriff’s website. Kim Skoglund, 44, was released Sunday. They’re all facing robbery charges.

According to a sheriff’s report, it all started when the man stopped and got off his bike when he was approached by Corbin. She told him she was going to take his bike, and then started pulling on it. Sargent helped her get the bike from the man.

The man then told the two women he was calling the police, and took his phone from his pocket, but Corbin snatched the phone from his hand, and she and Sargent fled into a residence in the 200 block of 60th Avenue Terrace West, the report said.

The man knocked on the door, and Sargent told him through a window that he could get his bike back for $30; so he left and called authorities.

Sheriff’s deputies were shown the house and made contact with the suspects.
Skoglund gave consent to look inside the home, and the bike was located and suspects arrested. Skogland was arrested with the victim’s phone in her pocket, the report said.

The bike and phone were returned to the victim.

Sargent told investigators the man gave her the bike for sexual favors, the report said. He denied this and insisted it was a robbery.

-- Brent Conklin