Cops Corner

Jan. 31
His cover was blown
3 p.m. — 900 block of Beach Road. Petit Theft. A beachgoer left his wallet under his towel, while he dipped his feet in the Gulf.

The tenet of being a good tenant
7 p.m. — 2400 block of Valencia Drive. Criminal Mischief. The owner of a rental home reported extensive vandalism inside the property. The windows were broken, kitchen and bathroom cabinets were damaged, doors were damaged and nearly every wall was marked with black paint or marker. The owner said he evicted someone earlier in the day, because he didn’t pay his rent. The tenant was angry and is suspected of causing the damage.

Feb. 1
No vacancy
6:35 a.m. — 1700 Laurel Street. Trespassing. An officer on foot patrol through the Laurel Park neighborhood noticed a transient sleeping on a bench under the gazebo in the community park. It’s not the first time the man was caught sleeping there. The officer issued him a trespassing warning and told him to stay away.

Gun control
8:16 a.m. — Bahia Vista Street and South Tuttle Avenue. Disorderly Conduct. An officer received a report of a driver who threatened another driver with a gun. The officer stopped the suspect, who said he does have a licensed handgun and did confront the other driver, but he kept his gun inside his truck at all times. The officer interviewed the alleged victim, who agreed that the suspect never displayed the gun, but had told him during their argument that he was carrying a gun. The officer determined no crime was committed.

Mixed message
1:12 p.m. — North Washington Boulevard. Officer Service. A caller reported the railroad-crossing arm was stuck halfway down.

Music man
3:28 p.m. — 1 block of Bayfront Drive. Suspicious Person. The officer responded to a report of a panhandler playing an accordion.

This Bud’s for you
3:30 p.m. — 5800 block of Midnight Pass Road. Grand Theft. Complainant called the sheriff’s office to report his kayak was stolen from the open-dive platform of his 34-foot boat, which is docked at a condo complex. The kayak has “Budweiser” emblazoned on the
side.

Dog dazed
3:50 p.m. — 4000 block of South Tamiami Trail. Theft. An employee of a store that sells puppies said a man with a toddler walked into the store and began playing with a 10-week-old dachshund. The man asked the employee what it cost. The employee allowed the man and child to play with the puppy while he left the room to check on the price. When he returned, the man and child were gone. A customer walking into the store said he just saw a man hurry outside with a dachshund stuffed in his shirt. A check of the store revealed a dachshund was missing. Someone was able to get the man’s license-plate number before he could drive away.

Feb. 2
Super bowl party
1:30 a.m. — 100 block of Beach Road. Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia. A deputy pulled over a woman who would not turn off her high-beam headlights. The deputy began following the car and turned on his emergency lights. He immediately noticed the driver making frantic movements and reaching into the passenger seat. When the driver finally stopped, the deputy could smell burnt marijuana. He asked her to get out of the car. She tried palming something in her hand and inconspicuously sliding it into her pocket. The deputy asked her to produce the secret item, which was a marijuana bowl. The driver was arrested.