His video of the incident went viral. Now the Sheriff is investigating.
By Jamee Kerber
Original Air Date: October 18, 2024
Host: A video has gone viral about a black teenager being harassed by neighbors when he went searching for a phone signal in his gated Sarasota neighborhood after Hurricane Milton. WSLR News reporter Jamee Kerber brings you the details.
Jamee Kerber: The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has initiated a full investigation into an incident turned altercation that gathered national attention, when a video posted to TikTok and Facebook social media sites went viral with millions of views in a single day. On Thursday, October 10th, just one day following the historic landfall of category three Hurricane Milton, a young black male recorded himself while walking about his neighborhood and being harassed, followed and threatened by self proclaimed concerned neighbors insistent that the young man identify himself and his place of residence.
The Skye Ranch community where the incident took place is located east of I-75 off of Clark and Lorraine Roads and is touted as an up-and-coming area. The gated and sprawling 850 acre development consists of over 1,200 homes with community access to modern amenities such as tennis, basketball and pickle courts, resort style pools, lounge, pet park, and fitness facilities.
The self-made video was posted by the young man’s mother, Whitney Portela, stating in part, “This was not a one minute altercation. My son was followed for over 10 minutes dealing with this. I am so happy he recorded every moment, and thankful my child is still here. I do not want to live in a community that does not welcome me and my children because of the color of our skin.”
She goes on to reference the 2009 tragedy of Trayvon Martin and further writes, “I am posting this because people need to see that racism still exists. This is racial profiling and harassment at its finest.”
The incident plays upon fears of looting and shooting, as reinforced by Polk County’s well-televised Sheriff Judd Grady and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, as stated in their respective post-Milton press conferences. A portion of the recorded conversation between the smiling teenager, calmly walking through the sidewalks and streets of his neighborhood, while the neighborhood was still under shelter-in-place orders post-storm, being followed by the two aggressive questioners on foot, on bicycle, in a golf cart, and in a car, with additional neighbors and children gathering in the pursuit.
Recording Resident: This ain’t weird? Look at the neighborhood creepers. The neighborhood creepers.Yeah. Look at Buddy, he’s still creeping.
Unknown Neighbor: Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve. No, no, no, Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve.
RR: Huh?
Geffrey Gardner: You know exactly what it is, man. You know it.
RR: What the F do I know exactly what it is?
GG: You’re recording me. You’re trying to race bait me. You know, I know you are.
RR: I don’t want to race … Bro, I have no issue with no color.
Steve Carega: He attack your wife?
UN: That’s what I thought, man.
RR: Come on now.
SC: You calling his wife a liar? What’s up buddy, you want something? You need something? How’d you get here, bro? You walk all the way back, past all the cattle, you walk back here? Come on. You walk to go through a gated community? Whatchu want?
RR: You think I would do all that to hang out with you? Come on, now. Come on, now.
SC: Buddy, you’re crossing the line now, bro.
RR: Hey, you’ve been crossing the line, acting like you gonna hit me.
UN: Yeah, we all know that.
SC: We know that, bro. We know what you want, buddy. We know!
RR: Bruh. They creepers! They following me.
JK: The two men heard in the recording have been identified on Facebook as Stephen Carega and Geffrey Gardner; both have since removed their public profiles and known affiliations to Skye Ranch’s homeowners association and Florida’s Open Carry and Stand Your Ground gun laws.
Carega is seen in the video being physically restrained by a third unidentified man.
Trevor Harvey, president of the local NAACP, has taken up the cause along with the teen’s mother, referencing the deeply disturbing comparison with the tragic case of Ahmaud Arbery. Skye Ranch employees, residents and HOA members have not responded to repeated attempts for comment.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Department has assigned detectives and are conducting eyewitness interviews. They have declared commitment to taking appropriate actions for the safety of all Sarasota residents, regardless of skin tone.
This is Jamee Kerber reporting for WSLR News.
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