A man was arrested after allegedly breaking into a home in Palmetto in the early morning hours of March 2, 2025, at approximately 4:55 a.m. and touching a sleeping woman without her consent, authorities reported.
According to the Palmetto Police Department probable cause affidavit, the suspect, Roger Ivan Lopez Gomez, age 26, entered the residence through the front door. He proceeded to the second floor, where four residents were asleep. Lopez Gomez then entered a bedroom and began rubbing the leg of a woman who was under a blanket.
The victim woke up in shock and began screaming, alerting her boyfriend, who was sleeping beside her. The suspect immediately fled down the stairs as the woman pursued him. However, he managed to escape through the front door and disappeared into the night. Nothing was reported stolen from the home, and none of the victims knew the intruder.
Authorities launched an investigation, and a break in the case came when the homeowner shared a surveillance photo of the suspect in a Facebook group called Parrish Parents Network. The image quickly caught the attention of a manager at Ferraro’s Italian Grill in Parrish, who recognized the man as a dishwasher at the restaurant.
Detectives responded to the restaurant where they confronted Lopez Gomez. At first, he denied involvement, despite being seen wearing the same distinctive Crocs-style shoes and having the same facial hair as the individual caught on camera. However, when presented with a clearer surveillance image, the man admitted to being inside the home.
Lopez Gomez was arrested and taken to the Palmetto Police Department for questioning. During the interview, he stated that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time and did not intend to harm anyone or steal anything. He admitted to touching the female victim but claimed he did not know who she was.
The suspect faces charges of burglary and battery. As of March 13th, 2025, he is still incarcerated in the Manatee County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing, and the authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
Download the Probable Cause Affidavit (PCA) here or you may view it below.
What a scumbag! Props to the restaurant manager for calling 📞 the police 🚓!