Cops Corner: Sarasota

Jan. 27
BALLER BLOCKIN’
8 a.m. — 1400 block of Ninth Street.
Dispute/Fight: A man reported that another male, whom he knows as “Baller,” is threatening him. Baller had given the man “a couple of pieces of dope,” the man said, and wanted to be paid for the drugs. The man didn’t have the money right now, he said, and wanted to make a report in case something happens to him.

BLOWN COVER
8:10 a.m. — 1500 block of Main Street.
Suspicion General: A man reported that an unknown male ran up to him and began yelling “Marine Corps, stand back!” The male then left the area walking westbound, before turning around and crossing paths with the man again heading eastbound. The man was annoyed, and told police that he was an undercover DEA officer.

HONKING MAD
11:40 a.m. — 900 block of University Parkway.
Other Disorderly Conduct: A man reported that he got in a dispute on the road with another driver. The man said the other driver got out of his car at one point and threatened to fight him. Officers made contact with the other driver, who reported that the man followed him and acted as if he was going to run him over. The other driver said the incident was sparked because he honked his horn at the man, who was sitting at an intersection and not moving.

FAUX RENT
1:22 p.m. — 1200 block of Cocoanut Avenue.
Cheating/Gross Fraud: A woman reported that an unknown subject listed her house for rent on Craigslist. The woman said an interested tenant who saw the online posting checked the property records for the house and decided to contact the owner. After discovering that the post was fraudulent, the prospective tenant sent an email to the man who listed the residence online. The man sent back an email, asserting that the residence would be available for the dates she requested.

SOAP & SUDS
1:30 p.m. — 1300 block of South Tamiami Trail.
Petit Theft — Shoplifting: The produce manager of a supermarket observed a man attempting to leave the store with a shopping cart who was going the wrong way through the entrance doors. The manager then noticed the items were not bagged, and suspected the man was trying to steal them. The manager told the man he needed to pay for the items first, to which the man responded that a cashier had his receipt. The manager went to ask the cashier if the man had paid; meanwhile, the man pushed the cart to the exit doors and left. The manager confirmed with the cashier that the man had not paid for the items. The manager said the cart contained at least three cases of beer and one large container of laundry detergent, valued at nearly $90.