A Port Charlotte man was arrested for allegedly pocketing a $56,745 ring that fell off a 73-year-old bar patron's finger.
Brian Patrick Cooney, 57, 885 Fairfax Terrace, was charged with grand theft from a person 65 years and older.
A Charlotte County deputy was dispatched at 9:54 p.m. Monday to Gatorz Bar & Grill, 3816 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, about theft of a gold and diamond ring. A surveillance video showed a customer picking up a ring off the ground, put it in his pocket and leave.
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Brian Patrick Cooney
The deputy said the video showed a man walking over to the ring, placed his right foot over it, look around then pocket the ring. The victim and other customers later began looking for the ring but the man did not assist before leaving.
Two policemen went to collect the property at Cooney's home but said he did not know what they were talking about. Told he was shown on surveillance video taking the ring, Cooney said he was going to give it to the owner tomorrow when he returned to the bar.
Cooney was arrested and jailed on $25,000 bond.
