Cops Corner: Sarasota

May 23
SO LONG, FAREWELL
1:55 a.m. — 500 block of North Washington Boulevard. Dispute/Fight. An employee at a convenience store observed a man walk out of the store with an 18-pack of beer. The employee said that as the man left he said, “Thanks, have a good night.” The employee said the store had video surveillance, but he did not know how to retrieve it and he couldn’t get in contact with someone who did.

LOCKING HORNS
9:23 p.m. — 800 block of Mecca Drive. Dispute/Fight. A woman locked her keys in her car and called a locksmith. The woman agreed to give the locksmith $90 to make a key to get into her car. The locksmith made the key and unlocked the door, but the woman became upset because the key would not start the car. The locksmith explained that the key needed a microchip to start, and that it would cost $50 to add that. The woman said she wanted a refund, and the locksmith refused to return her money. Officers informed the woman that she would have to go to small claims court to dispute the charge.

May 24
JUST FOR KICKS
12:04 a.m. — 2100 block of Wood Street. Suspicion Person. A man said he was sitting in his dining room using his computer when someone kicked his front door. The man did not get up. Five minutes later, someone kicked the door again, the man said. The man, who lives alone, said he did not know anyone who would do this jokingly.

May 25
LIFE’S A DRAG
11 p.m. — 900 block of North East Avenue. Motor Vehicle Theft. A woman reported that some time between 11 p.m. and 1:55 a.m. someone stole her moped. The woman had parked the moped in her front yard, and said the steering wheel had been locked and the keys were not with the vehicle. An officer observed a tire track in the woman’s yard, which made it appear as if the scooter had been dragged away.

May 26
CUTTING REMARKS
11:28 a.m. — 1700 block of 34th Street. Dispute/Fight. A man came home from the downtown Memorial Day parade and noticed that the palm tree in his front yard had been trimmed, with the branches left on his lawn. The man confronted his neighbor about the incident. The neighbor cursed at the man, so the man called the police. The neighbor admitted to officers that he had trimmed the palm tree. He said he never stepped onto the man’s property and that the branches were blocking the sidewalk. Officers informed the neighbor that he did not have the authority to trim the tree, and that he should call the city or speak with the homeowner about trimming the tree. The neighbor reiterated that he didn’t step on anyone else’s property, but eventually cleaned up the branches and agreed to stay away from the man.