Cops Corner: Longboat Key

April 2
Civil DIscussion
4:30 p.m. — 500 block of Ranger Lane. Civil Disturbance. A man called police about a possible disturbance between the owner of his residence and his roommate. Police spoke to both the owner and the roommate and determined it was a civil matter.

April 3
Stolen treasures
1:49 p.m. — 4900 block of GMD. Lost/Missing Property. At least nine pieces of jewelry have gone missing from a couple’s condo unit over the past couple of years. The man never reported the incidents until reading about the arrest of a condo employee for jewelry theft. The man said he suspected the employee of taking the jewelry but did not report the incidents because he did not have proof. He estimated between $15,000 to $20,000 worth of jewelry was stolen.

Immigration warrant
2:47 p.m. — 400 block of GMD. Assist Other Agency. Police assisted immigration officials who were searching for a restaurant employee with a deportation warrant. The suspect was arrested without incident.

Pizza problem
2:55 p.m. — 5400 block of GMD. Fraud. A man said his roommate used his credit card to have pizza delivers on two occasions last month and signed the receipt using his name.

Mistaken identity
5:38 p.m. — 4300 block of GMD. Public Service. A resident became suspicious that a man and woman were trespassing on a condo property and called police. The man and woman said the resident thought they were parking to go to the beach, but they were actually visiting a condo resident.

Out of my way
5:42 p.m. — 600 block of Cedars Court. Civil Disturbance. A man complained that construction workers have been working in his complex for a year and blocking his driveway. He said earlier that day, he asked construction workers to move their vehicle and they became argumentative and honked a truck’s horn repeatedly, which he believes was an attempt to harass him. Police told him to call the department if workers block his driveway but said their ability to enforce parking issues on private property is limited.

April 4
The night to remain silent
1:14 a.m. — 400 block of N. Shore Road. Noise. A man told police he, his girlfriend and a few friends were having drinks and enjoying the evening when police told him about a noise complaint. He and his friends agreed to keep it down for the rest of the night.

Raccoon rescue
11:52 a.m. — Linley Street. Animal. A woman called police after finding a sick raccoon. A wildlife agency representative told police that the animal probably had distemper and would be euthanized. The raccoon’s condition worsened throughout the day, and police euthanized the animal and buried it behind the station.

Death investigation
1:03 p.m. — 5900 block of GMD. Rescue. A construction manager said he found a worker slumped over in a van and began CPR. Other workers said they last saw him alert and doing paperwork in the van. Firefighter/paramedics were unable to revive the man. Police assisted with the investigation and notified the man’s wife.

April 5
Breaking up is hard to do
12:36 a.m. — Intersection of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway. Domestic Disturbance. A man said his recently estranged wife came to the restaurant where he works and started making a scene. The woman came back to the area crying, saying she did not want to make a scene but that she wanted to talk to her husband and could not think of any other way to do so because he would not answer his phone. Police told her to stay away from her husband’s place of employment.

White out
7:28 a.m. — 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway. Larceny. A man took two electronic toothbrushes from a drug store without paying for them. When a store employee asked, “Are you going to pay for that?” he did not respond and walked out the door.The toothbrushes were valued at $153.99 and $129.99. Surveillance cameras captured the incident, but police were unable to locate the suspect.

Where there’s smoke ...
7:31 a.m. — 100 block of N. Shore Road. Camping. Police saw smoke from a campfire coming from Beer Can Island but couldn’t respond right away because of high tide. Later, police found a campsite with a fire and bed rolls and three men nearby who said they were camping. Police told them that camping and open fires are prohibited on Longboat Key and ordered them to extinguish the fire and remove their belongings.

Dog attack
5:10 p.m. — 600 block of Cedars Court. Animal. Two dogs bit a man as he walked past the pool/bar area of a resort, causing injuries to the man’s hand and leg. Both dogs had current vaccinations. Police notified Manatee County agencies.

April 6
They didn’t see the signs
7:37 a.m. — 100 block of N. Shore Road. Camping. Police found two men sleeping in hammocks between downed trees on Beer Can Island. They apologized and said they did not see the signs warning that camping is prohibited.

Slithery suspect
12:50 p.m. — 700 block of Longboat Court. Animal. Police captured a snake that was possibly a python and took it to the police department. Wildlife officers could not immediately determine what kind of snake it was and took custody of the animal.

April 7
This is private property
4:04 p.m. — Jewfish Key. Trespassing. A man and woman who were sunbathing on private property told police they came out to Jewfish Key to relax. They left after police told them they were on private property.

April 8
Left behind
9:33 a.m. — 2100 block of GMD. Assist Other Agency. Police found a wallet and prescription pill bottle that belonged to a man who firefighters transported to a hospital recently. The man’s wife retrieved the items.