Cops Corner

March 7
Genuine fakes
11:28 a.m. — 1500 block of First Street. Counterfeit Currency. The security guard at the bus-transfer station reported a man trying to pass counterfeit bills. He tried to buy a bus pass with a fake $20 bill. An officer questioned the man, who said he had no idea the money was counterfeit. He said he got the bills from another man but couldn’t remember his name. The officer took one $20 bill and two $10 bills and let the man go on his way.

Bad habit
6:30 p.m. — 1300 block of South Tamiami Trail. Petit Theft Shoplifting. A man shopping at a supermarket purchased four bags of groceries with food stamps. However, before he approached the checkout line, he was seen grabbing four packs of Marlboro cigarettes and stuffing them in his jacket. He left the store without paying for the smokes. He was placed under arrest.

Stunt driver
6:43 p.m. — South Orange Avenue and Hillview Street. Reckless Driver. Complainant reported a driver was swerving all over the road and driving up on the sidewalk several times.

March 8
Over exposure
8:25 a.m. — Bahia Vista Street. Road Hazard. A manhole cover was seen lying on the road, with the manhole exposed. However, no ninja turtles — mutant or otherwise — were seen in the area.

False start
9:26 a.m. — 4000 block of Roberts Point Road. Grand Theft. A boat owner hired a mechanic to fix a leak in his boat. The mechanic removed several parts and asked for $1,000 for replacement parts. The owner gave him the money but didn’t hear from the mechanic for a week. He finally called the man, who said he didn’t start the work, because he was in the hospital. However, he did ask for another $600 to get started on the repairs. Although the mechanic couldn’t say why he needed more money, the boat owner gave it to him. And that was the last the owner heard from the man. The sheriff’s office is now trying to find him.

Friday the 13th
7 p.m. — 1900 block of Edgewater Drive. Suspicious Person. A woman was standing in her front yard talking to her mother, when a person on a bicycle rode by slowly. He was wearing all-black clothing and a hockey mask.

Customer is not always right
7:58 p.m. — 1800 block of Stickney Point Road. Disturbance. A man and his wife were causing such a scene at a restaurant that a sheriff’s deputy had to issue them a warning to never return. The man became belligerent over a disputed bill. The restaurant manager called the sheriff’s office. When the deputy arrived, the husband and his wife left the restaurant, but the husband continued to yell and curse in the parking lot and nearly fell down while doing so.

Booth ache
8:17 p.m. — 1900 block of Main Street. Petit Theft. A driver in a public parking garage sped past a tollbooth to avoid paying the $3 parking fee. The attendant got the driver’s license number and reported the incident to police.

March 9
Moonlight mischief
2:20 a.m. — 5900 block of Midnight Pass Road. Criminal Mischief. Complainant saw five individuals damaging lights on a seawall along the beach and throwing beach furniture around.