LBO Best of Cops 12.31.15

JAN. 3

VIEW FROM ABOVE

10:57 p.m. – 2700 block of GMD.

Suspicious Person: A man noticed a suspicious man on the beach from his fourth-floor balcony. The suspicious man was shirtless and stood still with his arms stretched upward and seemed to sway, then he stood in the shadows under palm trees.

JAN. 9

THOUGHT CRIME

1:45 p.m. – 5400 block of GMD.

Phone Call: A Longboat Key Town Commission candidate said that he talked to a man who called from a restricted number for seven minutes about a letter to the editor he wrote for a local publication. The caller was upset about the candidate’s position on the Keystone Pipeline and said something to the effect of, “I know you are running for city councilman, and I will do whatever I can to make sure you do not get elected.” Police told the candidate no crime had been committed.

JAN. 12

REST STOP

1:57 p.m. – 4700 block of GMD.

Public Service: A 92-year-old man who was standing in a bicycle lane with his walker told police he and his wife were walking to a shopping center and became separated. He said he just wanted to get lunch and got tired during the walk and was resting. Police located the man’s wife, who confirmed they got separated.

JAN. 18

PARTY BUS

7:26 p.m. – 2700 block of GMD.

Beverage Violation: A bus driver asked police to help her remove a passenger who opened a can of beer. The passenger agreed to exit the bus, remove his bicycle from the front rack and throw away the beer can. Police told him he could board the next scheduled bus if he did not have any open alcoholic beverages.

JAN. 25

TOILET TOSS

3:27 a.m. – 2000 block of GMD

Domestic Disturbance: A man threw his soon-to-be-ex-wife’s cellphone in the toilet and urinated on it during an argument. The couple had argued after the man told the woman he had filed for divorce. The woman purchased two plane tickets to fly out of state with their 18-month child to stay with her family, but the man did not want her leaving the state with their child. The man agreed to leave their residence for the night. Police told the woman to notify her husband if she plans to leave the home with their child.

FEB. 5

WHY DID THE CHICKENS CROSS THE ROAD?

4:54 p.m. – 500 block of Bayview Drive

Animal: A caller reported that chickens were running around on the road. A woman who lives on the street told police that the town notified her that she needed to remove her free-range chickens. She moved four chickens out to her farm in Myakka but is keeping two at her home because one is hurt and needs company. She plans to move the pair to Myakka as soon as the chicken is feeling better.

MARCH 1

THE SOUND OF SILENCE

10:58 p.m. – 500 block of Kingfisher Lane

Noise: Police encountered three men talking quietly in an open garage while responding to a noise complaint. The men said they didn’t realize they had disturbed anyone and closed the garage door. Less than 10 minutes later, the same caller reported that the garage door was open, and there was noise. Police found the door was still closed and said no noise was audible. The caller said she didn’t think the men should be outside at 11 p.m.

MARCH 5

DOG FIGHT

6:01 p.m. – 3000 block of Grand Bay Blvd.

Civil Disturbance: A groomer picked up a dog, Trixie, after the owner requested her service. The groomer started feeling ill and transported Trixie to a Sarasota location but told the woman she would have Trixie back by 5:30 p.m. The women called police because she worried the groomer wouldn’t bring Trixie back. She later found a text message from the groomer telling her to stop harassing her and stating that she would meet the owner at the guard gate and would not charge her for the service. She left Trixie and a bag of treats with the guard. Police determined that no theft occurred and spoke to the groomer the next day after she received threatening texts from the woman, one of which stated, “stop harassing me if u know whats good for u.” The groomer played a voice mail from the woman in which the woman asked her to bring the dog back by 5:30 p.m., but the groomer got stuck in traffic. Police told the woman not to contact the groomer.

MARCH 14

CALL OF THE WILD

1:53 p.m. – 600 block of Magnolia Road

Noise: A woman complained that she has been bothered by bird noises for several days and believes someone may be using a recording of screech hawks to scare away other birds. Police heard the sound of screeching hawks but could not determine whether it was natural or recorded.

APRIL 14

WARNING SHOTS

4:40 p.m. – 7000 block of Longboat Drive East

Code Enforcement: A woman told police she saw a man shoot at peacocks with a BB gun. She told police she didn’t hear the gun go off and didn’t think any peacocks were injured. The man told police he discharged the gun to scare the peacocks away but didn’t shoot at them. He told police he’s sick and tired of the peacocks pooping on his roof, lanai and surrounding property. He said tourists also walk on his property to take pictures of the birds. He received a verbal warning.

APRIL 28

HELLO, NEIGHBOR

10:59 p.m. – 3500 block of Bayou Circle

Suspicious Circumstance: A man told police he feels boaters who anchored in the canal behind his neighbor’s home were preparing to burglarize the property. The boating couple told police they were just fishing in the canal and didn’t appreciate the neighbor yelling profanities at them. Police told the neighbor the canal is a public waterway, not private property.

MAY 9

TAKE COVER

3:09 p.m. – 4000 block of GMD

Code Enforcement: A woman flagged down a police officer to report a man was sitting on the beach without wearing clothes. Police found the man sitting in a beach chair with only a small towel to cover his private parts. He told the police his swimsuit doesn’t fit him anymore, and he was sorry he was on the beach naked. He was issued a written warning and escorted from the beach.

MAY 20

BREAKING AND ENTERING

6:44 p.m. – 500 block of St. Judes Drive

Animal: A large raccoon tried to break into a woman’s screened porch, and she was concerned for the safety of herself and her dogs. Police couldn’t find the raccoon and suggested she hire a trapper.

JUNE 4

MOVE OUT AND ON

3:15 p.m. – 4400 block of GMD

Disturbance: A woman told police she has evidence that her roommate lied to hospital staff about her condition when she was admitted in April. She also said her roommate is a thief who has stolen personal items from their condo and her identity through the use of her credit cards. She said he is leaving bug spray near her food and purposefully washing her clothes with a detergent that irritates her skin. She said she can’t kick him out because they own the residence together. Police advised her to continue speaking with her attorney to resolve the issues and sell the property.

JUNE 12

GOVERNMENT SPY?

12.24 p.m. 100 block of Sands Point Road:

Suspicious Circumstance: A property manager told police unit owners reported seeing a large drone with red lights flashing near the beach the night before. The residents didn’t wish to file a report and just wanted to know if the drone belonged to the government. Police couldn’t answer the question but advised it was probably a privately owned drone.

JUNE 22

YOU’VE BEEN WARNED

4:48 p.m. – Intersection of Broadway and Palm Drive

Disturbance: A Bradenton Beach woman followed a man on a motorcycle into the Longbeach Village and told police he was driving recklessly and “popping wheelies” on Anna Maria Island. The woman also said he blared his horn on Longboat Pass Bridge trying to intimidate the driver in front of him. Police warned the woman not to follow or confront drivers and warned the motorcyclist to change his driving habits.

JULY 2

MALE ORDER MISHAP

2:08 p.m. – 1100 block of Bogey Lane

Larceny: A woman reported the theft of a UPS package that was placed on her porch. She told police a $41.85 male torso mannequin she had ordered was inside the box.

AUG. 8

SILENCE IS GOLDEN

9:04 a.m. – 500 block of Harbourside Drive

Disturbance: The driver of a shuttle van transporting a woman to Tampa International Airport told her to get out of his van after she was verbally abusive to him for being late, and he got offended when she asked what race he was. Police persuaded both parties not to speak to one other en route to the airport, and the driver agreed to let her back in his van.

AUG. 11

RUFFLED FEATHERS

8:59 p.m. – 400 block of GMD

Suspicious Circumstance: A man told police that his kids were swimming in a condominium pool when a man wearing a dress with feathers in his hair frightened them, began screaming vulgarities at them and telling them they were too loud. Police found the man next door and confirmed he was wearing a dress and had feathers in his hair. Police warned him about his behavior and he apologized.

SEPT. 6

STRANDED ON THE ISLAND

12:45 p.m. – 7100 block of La Lenaire Drive

Trespassing: A Jewfish Key resident reported a woman passed out on the private island. When police woke her and calmed her down, she reported she had two beers, and her friends propped her up on the island and must have taken off. She was given a ride to shore.

SEPT. 13

COMPUTER S.O.S.

3:34 a.m. – 6900 block of Bayside Drive

Disturbance: Police responded to a disturbance in the bay and found a woman in a kayak near the shore searching for her computer and cellphone that her boyfriend threw off their boat. She told police he came home drunk and threw the items in the bay. Once she got to shore, she realized the computer actually landed in the kayak. She got in her car and left.

SEPT. 20

PLAN OF ATTACK

6:22 p.m. – 800 block of Longboat Club Road

Animal Bite: A man’s plan to scare off three raccoons in his yard went awry when two of the raccoons charged the homeowner and bit him on the leg. The man’s wife took him to the hospital for treatment.

SEPT. 22

MAN OF THE HOUSE

5:03 p.m. – 800 block of Longboat Club Road

Phone Call Harassment: A man told police he received 12 phone calls from a man who keeps asking for the man of the house. The man of the house requested that he stop calling, but the calls keep coming. Police called the number and got a voice mail from the Republican College Party.

SEPT. 27

THE GREAT BATH ESCAPE

8:17 a.m. - 5300 block of GMD

Animal: A man found a black Chihuahua on Gulf of Mexico Drive without any tags or collars. Police took the dog to the police station. Its owner showed up at the station within an hour to report the dog missing. The owner told police she was preparing to bathe the dog when it ran away.

OCT. 5

HOME BREAKER

10:03 a.m. – 600 block of Cedar Street

Disturbance: A man who is going through a divorce told police he was worried that his estranged wife would damage his home before an appraisal scheduled for later that day. She had already destroyed the garden before police arrived. Police kept the peace during the appraisal and the soon-to-be-ex-wife left.

OCT. 12

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

8:46 p.m. – 500 block of Harbor Cove Circle

Noise Disturbance: A woman reported that she heard a woman screaming at a man on a neighboring deck earlier. The housekeeper of the residence told police that her daughter-in-law was screaming at her husband to get his attention because he is hearing-impaired and was pressure washing the exterior of the home.

NOV. 19

CALL DR. PHIL

10:32 p.m. – 7100 block of GMD

Disturbance: A woman called police in hopes they could help broker peace after she and her boyfriend argued verbally after a night of drinking. Police observed no signs of injury. The couple agreed to sleep in different rooms for the night after police explained that they are not couples counselors.

Dec. 1

HANG ON TO YOUR HAT

8:30 p.m. – 600 block of Cedar Court

Suspicious Circumstance: A woman found a strange hat in her second-floor bathroom when she returned in the evening. The woman’s mother let a worker into the home to check a window, and it was his hat.

DEC. 8

PIGEON PREY

4:54 p.m. — 500 block of Lyons Lane

Suspicious Circumstance: A woman reported seeing two men in a black Jeep pointing a rifle at birds on power lines. She showed police the remains of two raccoons and bird feathers in the canal behind her home. The woman gave police the address of a home of a boy she believes was one of the shooters. The boy told police he doesn’t own a gun. He explained he only catches pigeons off the Cortez Bridge. He brings them home, cooks them and throws their wings into the canal. Police advised him to dispose of the bird wings in another manner.