Former Candidate Charged In Property Survey Dispute: Police

Sarasota FL

10 December, 2021

4:56 PM

Description

NORTH PORT, FL — A former North Port City Commission candidate was arrested Wednesday morning after brandishing a gun during a dispute over a property survey. Levko Ostap Klos, 63, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent and hindering or preventing communication to law enforcement, both felony counts, according to the Sarasota County probable cause affidavit from his arrest. North Port police received several 911 calls about a man — later identified as Klos — pointing a handgun at two victims and responded to the scene around 11 a.m. Wednesday. The victims were surveying property between Klos' Athena Terrace home and adjacent property, according to the affidavit. They told police that he cornered them at the edge of the property, pointed a handgun at them, telling them to "get the f--- off" his property and keep their hands out of their pockets. Even after they told Klos why they were there, he threatened to shoot them. When one victim tried to get his phone so he could call 911, Klos told him to put his phone away, telling him that he "wasn't calling anyone," the affidavit said. The second victim was able to get his phone from his vehicle to call 911, though Klos followed him, pointing his gun at him. Once 911 was called, Klos holstered the gun. Officers who arrived at the scene saw the gun tucked into the front of his waistband. They told him to put the weapon on the grass and back away. They took the gun and pat him down to make sure he didn't have any other weapons, according to the affidavit. While Klos initially responded to police questions — though his response is redacted from the affidavit — he refused to answer any additional questions after being read his Miranda warning. Based on their investigation, police "believe Klos created a well-founded fear that violence was about to take place and could carry out his threats of bodily harm. It was evident by the reactions of both victims that there was clear emotional distress from the altercation." They also noted that he "hindered or delayed the use of 911 services by threatening the victims with great bodily harm when they attempted to contact emergency services." Klos unsuccessfully ran for office four times, including city commission in 2002 and 2006, the North Port Sun reported. He also ran for Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections in 2008 and the Sarasota County Memorial Hospital Board.