Cops Corner: Sarasota

Dec. 12
Inside job
8:40 a.m. — 2241 block of Bee Ridge Road. Theft — $300 to $20,000. An employee at a laundromat arrived at work in the morning and discovered the rear door was unlocked, the alarm was not active and all of the cash had been removed from the register. The owner came to the scene and contacted the alarm company, which reported the alarm had been turned on and off the previous night. The employee working the previous night said she had turned the alarm on and left the store, at which time $400 was in the register. All employees had access to the alarm code and a key to the register, the owner reported. The two employees at the scene said they were not responsible for the theft.

Dec. 13
Walk it off
12:18 p.m. — 500 block of Kumquat Court. Dispute/Fight. A man reported that a homeless male threatened to kill him, and he wanted to file charges. Along with an officer, the man walked down the street where the male was last seen. During the walk, the man got into arguments with multiple individuals. When officers spoke to the male who allegedly made the threats, he said the man was taking pictures of him, which led to an argument. While officers were present, the man yelled at the male who allegedly made the threats, cursing at him and telling him to get off the sidewalk. Officers judged that the man was acting as the aggressor in his confrontation with homeless individuals. The man walked away and said he was going to speak with his attorney.

Tough brake
8:56 p.m. — 2900 block of Leon Avenue. Suspicion General/Unknown. A woman informed officers that while she was driving another driver was following her car too closely. As a result, the woman slammed on her brakes. The woman said the other driver passed her car, yelling and waving something in one of her hands. A passenger in the woman’s car said the object looked like a gun.

Dec. 14
Bent out of shape
12:01 a.m. — 1500 block of 27th Street. Criminal Mischief. After getting into an argument with his girlfriend, a man left his home for the evening and stayed at his brother’s apartment. When he went outside later, he discovered his car had been vandalized; both side mirrors had been broken off and the antenna was bent. The man believed his girlfriend was responsible.