Cops Corner: Sarasota 04.14.16

April 9

SPRAY FOR MERCY
3:50 a.m. — 200 block of Cocoanut Avenue
Property Damage: A man discovered graffiti painted overnight on a condominium building. He said this was a recurring issue for the condo, and the incident marked the third time the condo association has had to paint over graffiti. He said there was no sign of vandalism when he went to bed at 10:30 p.m., but when he woke up early the next morning, the man discovered graffiti on the wall, trash cans and electrical boxes. An officer said an extra patrol would be conducted at night to deter any illegal activity.

SECOND-HAND BLUES
7:15 a.m. — 2200 block of Hyde Park Street
Dispute: A woman was holding a yard sale and reported that her neighbor was coming over and taking clothes without paying for them. The woman suspected the neighbor might have taken her kayak, as well. The neighbor said she paid the woman $80 for the clothes she took.

April 10

SHELL SHOCKED
4:40 p.m. — 1900 block of Fruitville Road
Suspicion: A man was sitting along the curb when a passing car slowed down and a passenger tossed an egg at him. The egg hit the man in the hand, which caused the man to drop the soda he was holding.

April 11

DUMPSTER DIVING
12:26 a.m. — 1400 block of Main Street
Theft: A man placed his wallet on the bar at a business after paying for drinks, then turned around to talk to his friends. He later realized he had forgotten his wallet, went back to the bar and discovered it was gone. Security reviewed video footage and saw another man taking the wallet before walking out the back door. The suspect was still in the back alley of the bar, and told security he threw the wallet in the dumpster. The suspect jumped into the dumpster and started to look for it, because the man said he would not press charges if the wallet was returned. Officers found one of the credit cards from the wallet next to the dumpster, but were unable to find the wallet itself. 

SLAMMING THE DOOR
12:18 p.m. — 3800 block of South Tamiami Trail
Property Damage: A man reported property damage to his car following a road rage incident. The man said the driver of a truck cut him off, so the man pulled alongside the truck and started yelling and making obscene gestures. At the next stoplight, the driver of the truck got out of his vehicle as the two continued to yell at one another. Before the driver got back in the truck, he reportedly kicked the driver’s side door of the man’s car, leaving a small dent. The man provided officers with a potential license plate, but the police were unable to track down more information about the suspect.