Cops Corner 7.20.17

JULY 7

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?

11:38 a.m. – 525 Bay Isles Parkway

Animal rescue: An officer called to the Shoppes of Bay Isles questioned a woman about dogs that had been reported left behind in her car. The woman said she had been gone just a short time, which the officer confirmed based on the 9-1-1 call and his response time. Still, he instructed her on how quickly temperatures can rise in a closed car and cautioned her about being more careful. The woman said she understood.

JULY 7

HAPPY JULY 7!

9:09 p.m. – 2500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Disturbance: An officer arrived to the beach adjacent to a condominium community after a complaint about fireworks. The officer saw people with sparklers and asked them to stop, based on the complaint. The people told the officer some others had been launching bigger fireworks just before the officer’s arrival.

JULY 7

WAKE UP, LEAVE

12:25 a.m. – 6400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious person: Police were called to the parking lot of Christ Church of Longboat Key on a report of a suspicious person in a pickup truck. The officer who arrived reported finding a sleeping woman in the cab of the truck. The woman said she had no space place to stay, so she pulled into the church lot. She was told she couldn’t sleep in her truck, and she drove off, leaving the Key.

JULY 9

FISH IN A BARREL

1:25 a.m. – 700 block of Broadway

Suspicious person: Police arrived at a private dock to talk to a pair of men who were fishing. They had arrived by boat and were taking advantage of underwater lights that attract fish. There were no wants or warrants connected to the men. They were asked to leave.

JULY 11

NO ONE OWNS THE VIEW

12:27 p.m. – Longboat Police Department

Public service: A man from out of town came to the police department headquarters to say he had questions about his rights on the beach. Management of the inn at which he was staying told him to move his family’s pop-up awning on the beach because it was blocking the view of a guest who complained. Management said he would have to comply because the inn owned the beach property all the way to the water’s edge. Police said that was not the case, and he had every right to place his awning as he desired on state-controlled property seaward of the dunes or the high water mark in the sand at high tide.