Cops Corner: East County

The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Jan. 15 
 Animals’ best friend
9:43 a.m. — 3800 block of 38th Avenue. Cruelty to Animals. A deputy visited a home to check on the welfare of pigs and sheep on the property. The home had caught on fire recently, and the caller was concerned about the welfare of the animals.

Jan. 17 
 Self control
6:08 p.m. — 4200 block of 55th Avenue Drive. Information Only. A man came to the sheriff’s office to verify law enforcement did not want his newly purchased firearm. The sheriff’s office determined law enforcement did not want the firearm. The reason the man had the gun verified is because he bought it from a juvenile for $150. He only bought the firearm because he felt it was safer with him than in the possession of the juvenile.

Jan. 22 
 Change-up
6:07 p.m. — 7000 block of W. Country Club Drive N. Burglary. A man reported someone broke into his home while he was away. Unknown person(s) took multiple coin collections and other money, which totaled $4,000 in value. The unknown person(s) fled by unknown means.

Jan. 23 
 In and out
2:12 p.m. — 8300 block of Lockwood Ridge Road. Theft. Witnesses saw a man carrying two cases of beer in a store. The man carried the beer cases out of the store, unconcealed, without paying. He was arrested. When arrested, deputies found prescription narcotics in his possession. He cannot return to the store.

Jan. 26
 Phone home
5:21 p.m. — 600 block of Misty Pond Court. Information Only. Neighbors of a woman noticed the woman’s car had been running for more than an hour while parked in the driveway. The neighbors also found the back sliding glass door of the woman’s home open. They yelled for the woman, but she did not respond. Deputies responded to the home. A deputy checked the sliding glass door and found it closed but unlocked. The deputy called the woman’s name but received no response. Suspecting the woman had suffered a medical issue, the deputy entered the home. The woman was not inside. As the deputy prepared to call the woman’s cellphone, she entered the home. She explained she had left the home and left her car running to charge her cell phone. She said it is common for her to leave the back door open. The deputy left the home.

Jan. 27 
 Conceal and carry
10:26 a.m. — 6200 block of State Road 64 E. Theft. A man entered a store and headed for the electronics section. He concealed electronics items valuing $359.85 in a plastic bag labeled with the name of the store. He exited the store without paying. Staff apprehended the man before sheriff’s office deputies arrived.

Trickery 
10:52 a.m. — 7300 block of 52nd Place E. Theft. A woman entered a department store and headed to the men’s clothing department. She selected a sweater, T-shirt and three pairs of shorts. She proceeded to a fitting room. She exited the fitting room carrying only three items. The fitting room did not contain any of the other items. The woman returned the three items to a shelf. She exited the store. A staff member stopped her and found two pairs of shorts concealed in her purse. Items valued $85. Video captured the incident.