Cops Corner: You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here

Oct. 27

After-hours warning

2:09 a.m., 100 block of North Shore Road

Traffic: A verbal warning was issued to the driver of a car parked after permitted hours, near the beach on North Shore Road. The people in the car left when asked without incident.

Piping up

10:58 a.m., in the water near Putter Lane

Public service: The marine patrol officer was sent to an area near Putter Lane in response to a report of a partially submerged pipe. The pipe was marked with small buoys that were difficult to see, especially in bad weather.  Police anchored a larger, more visible hazard buoy near the pipe. Officers followed up with the town about a contractor working on a nearby construction project.

Ring around the counter

6:40 p.m., 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Lost property: A hotel guest called police to make a report about a missing ring. The ring, described as a silver band with diamonds and a blue stone, was last seen on the bathroom counter six days previous. The guest told police she was unsure if it had been dropped or misplaced. A check of the hotel’s lost and found turned up nothing. The ring was valued at $500.

Bang, bang

6:40 p.m., 700 block of Russell Street

Suspicious circumstance: A caller to police reported what were believed to be multiple shots fired, perhaps 10 of them. A canvass of the area turned up nothing, but several people reported fireworks being set off nearby, at Coquina Beach. With no evidence to support a report of gunfire, the responding officers contacted the caller with the results of their investigation.

Oct. 28

Scratching the surface

5:18 p.m., Police Department headquarters

Property damage: A driver stopped in at police headquarters to report damage done to her car. She told police she had used valet parking at a bayfront Sarasota attraction and parked in a handicapped spot at a Longboat Key restaurant earlier in the day and discovered a scratched left-rear quarter panel when she returned to her car from the restaurant. An officer confirmed the scratches were consistent with damage caused by another car. The driver was given a case number and told to contact her insurance company.

Oct. 29

Not so fast, my friend

12:09 a.m., 100 block of North Shore Road

Traffic: An officer on patrol spotted a car parked near the beach past the permitted hour. As the officer approached, the car pulled out and left. The officer conducted a traffic stop to explain the parking issue and deliver a written warning. The driver said they had just arrived and decided to leave.

He had a bad day

10:02 a.m., 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic: A Myakka City driver who was not wearing a seatbelt captured the attention of an officer on patrol, who quickly discovered the pickup truck he was driving was connected to an owner with a suspended drivers’ license. After performing a traffic stop, the driver told the officer the truck was owned by his wife, but his drivers’ license was also suspended. The officer reported smelling marijuana and asked the driver about the odor, and which time the driver handed over a plastic bag containing a glass pipe and a substance that tested positive for marijuana. The man was cited for the seatbelt violation, driving with a suspended license and ordered to appear in court on the drug charge. The pipe, the marijuana and the drivers’ license were taken into evidence and the man called a licensed driver to handle the continuation of his journey.

Reading is fundamental

5:04 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Road

Suspicious person: Police were called regarding a man talking to himself. The responding officer found the man, who said he was reading aloud from a book he had borrowed from the Longboat Key Library.

Oct. 30

Gotta go

2:38 p.m., 500 block of Ranger Lane

Public service: A homeowner called police shortly after asking a construction contractor to leave the premises. The officer stood by as the contractor gathered his tools and left without incident.

Oct. 31

They’re learning

7:35 a.m., 500 block of Kingfisher Lane

Noise: Officers responded to a noise complaint at the site of a home under construction. All was quiet when the officer arrived. Workers at the site said they were aware of the town restriction on making disturbing work noise before 8 a.m.

Nov. 1

Well . . .

7:34 a.m., 700 block of Broadway Street

Noise: An officer was sent to a job site at which workers were on the roof making loud noises. When advised of the rules regarding work noise before 8 a.m., the site supervisor immediately told his crew to stop. The officer explained the town has no limitations on when work can be done, but it can’t involve disturbing noise before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. The supervisor was issued a written warning.

Water under the bridge

11:37 a.m., 5200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Disturbance: Two neighbors were having a dispute over a property line and a shared water pipe. One of the neighbors said the other was employing a plumber to install a meter in an area both claim as their property. The two neighbors were told the matter was civil in nature, and questions should be directed to the Manatee County Utilities Department.

Sandy paws

12:28 p.m., 100 block of North Shore Road

Animal call: A report of two dogs on the beach sent an officer to Greer Island to investigate. From the Longboat Pass Bridge, the officer told the dog owner they were not permitted on the beach. The owner loaded them back aboard his boat.

Alarming work

4 p.m., 1600 Harbor Sound Drive

Alarm: A pair of officers were sent to a residence to check out an alarm report. They found a roofing contractor finishing up repair work who said the homeowner had just left. Information was confirmed, and the alarm activation appeared to be accidental.