Man in 'altered state' accused of child neglect

VENICE — A Michigan man found "incoherent" and "in and out of consciousness" near a hotel pool is charged with child neglect without great bodily harm.

David William Bull, 36, of Clinton Township, was arrested by Venice police Saturday. He is free on $25,000 bond, with an arraignment date of Aug. 16.

VPD and Venice Fire & Rescue responded at 10:12 p.m. to a report of an unconscious man by the outdoor bar at Hotel Venezia. According to a probable cause affidavit, they found Bull in an "altered state that made him unable to provide care" for a child in his custody.

Bull was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice for "further treatment and evaluation," it says.

A witness told officers Bull had been drinking since 3:30 p.m., it says, adding he had left the child unattended to go to the hot tub with four people after one of them offered him "a smoking device containing a substance that would 'blow his mind,'" the affidavit says.

Bull "collapsed" after returning to the bar area, and the witness said he couldn't feel a pulse, it says.

Looking for information about next of kin, officers found "approximately 19" empty cans of High Noon, a seltzer that contains vodka, in Bull's room, according to the affidavit.

VPD released the child to the Department of Children and Families.

SMH informed officers that Bull had opioids in his system, and a blood alcohol level of 0.416.

Child neglect without great bodily harm is a felony.