Photo by KELLY FARRELL

Beer and blood lead Marco Island police to Ricardo Sargento, 23, of 642 Sixth Ave., who told police he was injured when he was riding his bike and fell on packages of glass beer bottles he was holding.

MARCO ISLAND — What began as a call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening near Elkcam Circle, turned into a hunt by Marco Island police officers following a trail of blood and beer for a couple city blocks.

Police responded to a call of a vehicle versus pedestrian accident at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Sixth Avenue and Marco Lake Drive. Marco Island police responders learned upon their arrival that there was no motor vehicle involved.

A six pack of bloodied and broken Corona in the middle of the street had emergency responders following a blood trail throughout the neighborhood leading to the front door of the victim's home at 642 Sixth Avenue.

Police found the man, who they later learned was Ricardo Sargento, 23, an employee of Capt. Brien's, hiding in the closet at his home, according to police reports released Wednesday morning.

"He was riding his bicycle and fell on the beer breaking the glass. He has a pretty serious injury to his right thumb...," said Marco Island police Lt. Mike Pena on the scene.

It was not revealed whether the bicyclist was intoxicated before the fall or whether tests for alcohol were taken.

A large puddle of blood was on the sidewalk near the Marco Eagle office at the corner of Tallwood Drive and Elkcam Circle. Just a few feet away was the first of two bloody bags containing six packs of Corona Beer, several of which had shattered.

A blood trail led from the first puddle of blood, down the sidewalk, through the Centennial Bank parking lot at 615 East Elkcam Circle, all the way to Sargento's home.

Along that path was the second bag containing a bloodied, half-broken pack of Corona beer.

Marco Island police and Marco Island Fire Rescue personnel bandaged the man's right hand at the scene. He had several smaller cuts all over his body, including cuts on his face.

A witness, Jesus Castellan, told police he saw Sargento fall on the sidewalk and cut his hand severely, according to the incident report. Castellan called 911 and told Sargento to stay put, but instead Sargento rode away on his bicycle, Castellan told police.

The bike was discovered at the home covered with blood, police reported. There was no crime involved police said.

Sargento was taken to the hospital via Collier County EMS ambulance.

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