Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Oct. 16
Right to work
7 p.m. — 5400 block of GMD. Disturbance. The owner of a landscaping company said that a man and woman yelled racial slurs and disturbed his mostly Hispanic crew. The man said he has had contact with the individuals in the past, and they have told him they do not like his employees parking and eating their lunch in front of the job site near their home. Police agreed to speak to the residents and tell them that his employees have the right to be at the site when working.

Oct. 19
Injured athlete
8:28 a.m. — 4000 block of GMD. Bicycle Accident. Two cyclists crashed during the Longboat Key Triathlon, causing minor injuries to one athlete. The woman went to a hospital for treatment, and police transported her bike to the station for safekeeping.

Double dog care
11:31 a.m. — 6800 block of GMD. Animal. A restaurant employee found two puppies with no identification. Police allowed her to take the puppies home to care for them until their owner can be located.

Oct. 20
It’s town bees-iness
9:23 a.m. — 700 block of Linley Street. Animal. A man encountered a large beehive on a neighboring property while mowing his grass. Publix Works barricaded the tree. Police notified the homeowner, who said the tree is on a town right of way and that Public Works contracted with a bee removal service for the tree in the past.

Double duty
10:07 a.m. — 700 block of Broadway. Property Damage. An automated garbage truck lifted a restaurant Dumpster in the air, causing several bottles to fall onto the hood of a police vehicle, causing minor dents. Police helped the driver clean up broken glass and documented the incident.

Peeping Tom
11:23 a.m. — 500 block of Bayport Way. Suspicious Vehicle. A woman reported a man sitting in his car in front of her home staring through the window with binoculars while drinking a beverage. A similar incident occurred in July.

Follow the leader
5:59 p.m. — 3500 block of Fair Oaks Lane. Suspicious Circumstance. A man who works on the Key became concerned by a man he believed was following him as he drove. Out of concern, he turned around, and the second driver also turned around. The worker turned into his place of employment, but the motorist continued to drive straight, and the employee then followed the man as he drove to his home. The driver told police he was not following anyone and that he does not know the driver of the other vehicle.

Pot problem
6:43 p.m. — 5800 block of GMD. Larceny. A woman reported that six of nine potted palm plants she placed along a sidewalk were stolen. She had placed them there so they could be planted.

Coming through
7:36 a.m. — 500 block of Hornblower Lane. Noise. Police warned a man not to make construction noise before 8 a.m. The man had started a back hoe to move it out of the way for a delivery that was scheduled to arrive that morning.

Garage gaffe
8:46 a.m. — 6000 block of GMD. Burglar Alarm. An alarm went off when a man entered a garage to spray a home. Dispatch could not contact the homeowners. Police closed the open garage door.

Undercover operation
5:20 p.m. — 500 block of Yardarm Lane. Code Enforcement. Police received a report of construction after 5 p.m. Police warned the roofer, who was trying to cover the unfinished portion of the roof with a tarp. warned him.