Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Feb. 9
False alarm
8:36 p.m. — 1500 block of GMD. Alarm. Police responded to a fire alarm caused by a malfunctioning fire sprinkler. Firefighters evaluated the damage to a condominium unit and common areas, which received a significant amount of water from the sprinkler.

Feb. 10
Neighbor dispute
10:50 a.m. — 600 block of Buttonwood Drive. Suspicious Circumstance. A couple reported that their neighbor followed them off the island and then drove by their home later that afternoon. The couple told police that they have received ongoing harassment from the neighbor.

Barking dog
10:57 a.m. — 500 block of Chipping Lane. Dog Nuisance. Police received a complaint about a barking dog but didn’t hear barking until they went behind the house. Police spoke to the tenant, who said that his dogs are generally quiet unless someone steps in the yard or other dogs walk in front of the residence.

Coward calls
2:13 p.m. — 3100 block of GMD. Neighbor Disturbance. A man said that he and his wife were walking down a street when a neighbor accused him of trespassing. The man denied trespassing and said that the neighbor replied, “You $#*! coward.” The man told the neighbor: “Watch your $#*! mouth.” The man told police that the neighbor believes his road is private, but current homeowner association rules allow him to travel on the road.

Feb. 11
Abandoned ship?
8:57 a.m. — 6200 block of GMD. Boat. A church board member called police about a boat that has been tied up at the church’s dock since September. Police made contact with the boat’s new owner and asked him to call the board member to resolve the issue.

Parking plea
7:04 p.m. — 7100 block of GMD. Suspicious Circumstance. A man reported that an unknown person asked to park at his residence in order to fish off a bridge. The man was concerned that the person could be in need of assistance, but by the time police arrived, the person had left.

Stranded boater
7:39 p.m. — 900 block of Spanish Drive North. Boat. Police contacted the U.S. Coast Guard after receiving a report of a disabled vehicle on a sandbar. Coast Guard officers reported that the boaters refused assistance because they wanted to remain on the boat until high tide or until another boat could tow the vessel.

Keep it civil
7:57 p.m. — 700 block of Marbury Lane. Harassing Phone Call. A woman agreed to sell her boat for $200 to a man, who then arranged to sell it to another man, who wanted the woman to complete title documents for the transaction. The woman then decided not to go through with the sale and told police that the man called her using profane language. Police contacted the man, who agreed to stop calling the woman and said he would take civil actions to resolve the dispute.

Where’s the fire?
9:42 p.m. — 500 block of Putting Green Lane. Fire. Firefighters told police that a reported fire was most likely not an actual fire, but, rather, the result of residents turning on their heat and triggering their alarm.

Feb. 12
Code words
7:58 a.m. — 500 block of Dream Island Road. Code Enforcement. Police told a worker that the town’s codes prohibit construction on Sundays.

Talking trash
3:19 p.m. — 6800 block of GMD. Dumping. A shopping-center owner asked police to closely patrol a part of his property where trash is frequently dumped illegally.

Feb. 13
Can you hear us now?
7:48 a.m. — 7100 block of La Lenaire Drive. Code Enforcement. A resident informed police of loud music coming from a Jewfish Key home. Police turned off the outdoor speaker and told a woman at the residence that there have been multiple complaints about loud music at the home. The woman agreed to speak to the owner.

The price of not paying
8:25 a.m. — 1600 block of GMD. Traffic Violation. Police checked the tag of a vehicle and found that its registered owner has a suspended driver’s license. The driver was the owner of the car and said that he knew he hadn’t paid a couple of tickets but didn’t know that his license was suspended. The driver had a Charlotte County warrant and was taken to Sarasota County Jail.

Carted off
12:33 p.m. — 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway. Trespassing. A grocery store associate manager asked police to escort off the property an 81-year-old man he caught shoplifting but signed a waiver of prosecution.

Feb. 14
Reckless driving
10:48 a.m. — Intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Bay Isles Parkway. Reckless Driving. A woman reported that a black luxury sedan nearly struck her and her husband as they attempted to cross the street at a crosswalk.

Not-so-lucky number
11:54 a.m. — 2000 block of GMD. Fraud. An 88-year-old man told police that he sent in three payments of $200 each after receiving a fax at his Rhode Island home stating that he won the Mega Millions jackpot. After returning to his Longboat Key residence, the man began getting calls from a Jamaican man who told him to send additional money so that he could claim his winnings. The man sent an additional $1,500 in two separate transactions via Western Union. He received a letter and check from a Gary, Ind., couple for $8,000, but the check was declined. Police told the man not to send more money to Jamaica and to change his phone number.

The sound of silence
12:52 a.m. — Intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Jungle Queen Way. Noise Disturbance. Police responded to a complaint about loud people in the area but were unable to find anyone making noise.

Room for error
12:09 p.m. — 6000 block of GMD. Suspicious Circumstance. A man reportedly walked up to a motel from the beach, began taking pictures of units and then opened the door to one unit and possibly went inside. The man said he was looking for his friends when asked what he was doing. Police found the man on the beach, who said that he accidentally opened the door to Unit 4, and his friend was staying in Unit 3.

Fire
1:11 p.m. — Intersection of Longboat Drive East and Russell Street. Fire. Police contacted Longboat Key Fire Rescue and FPL after receiving a report of arcing wires.

Feb. 15
Drinking duo
7:32 p.m. — 2100 block of GMD. Suspicious Person. A bus driver told police he dropped off a man and woman carrying a case of beer who looked out of place. Police were unable to locate the couple.