Longboat Key Cops Corner: Isn't he cute just sleeping there

July 30

Let sleeping raccoons be

11 p.m., 5300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal call: The operator of a restaurant called police concerned that a raccoon found sleeping on top of a garbage can was sick. The animal was not showing signs of being aggressive, and the restaurant operator left some food for it. The officer said it was probably best to let the raccoon continue sleeping but told the restaurant operator to call animal control officers if it was still there when morning patrons began to arrive.

July 31

The password is . . .

7:37 p.m., 6500 block of Bayou Hammock Road

Alarm: Police were sent to a home to investigate an activated alarm. The assigned officer spoke to the homeowner who said the alarm accidentally tripped while a battery was being replaced in a connected carbon-dioxide detector. The homeowner delivered the proper password to the alarm company.

Aug. 1

Driving while videoing

12:44 p.m., 500 block of Juan Anasco Drive

Suspicious vehicle: A resident called police concerned about a vehicle that was seen driving slowly down the street while the driver video-recorded the neighborhood. The caller said it was likely the vehicle had been there before, but it had driven off before police arrived. A check of the vehicle’s reported license number did not result in any found wants or outstanding warrants. The caller was urged to contact police again should the vehicle return.

That sinking feeling

10:38 p.m., 6200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic hazard: A police officer was sent to a town church to inspect a reported hole in the road near the property’s southern entrance. He found an opening in the pavement about four feet wide by two feet by three feet in depth. Because the opening was on town property, the officer relayed his findings to a Public Works worker, who acknowledged the texted photos. The officer placed traffic cones and yellow tape around the hole and relayed more photos of the now-cordoned off hazard.

Aug. 2

Leaf it to me

9:36 a.m., 600 block of Cedar Street

Citizen dispute: Two men became embroiled in a dispute resulting in a call to police over yard waste taken to the curb earlier than allowed by town regulations. One of the men said he confronted the other about the too-early deposit, and the other argued back. Both men threatened each other and the caller went inside and called police when an apology was rejected. The unauthorized debris had been returned to the yard before an officer arrived. An officer recommended the caller no longer speak with the yard-waste man.

Disappearing dogs

9:42 p.m., 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Dogs reported on the beach: Police canvassed the area but did not see a reported man and woman walking two dogs on the beach.

Aug. 4

All is well

12:53 p.m., 1900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Alarm: Police received a 911 call from an address, but the on-duty security guard told the officer there was a continuing technical fault with the phone line and that it had been reported to management.

Wiggly driving

1:03 a.m., 5600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Reckless driving: Police acted on a call from a witness about a vehicle being driven recklessly south from a location on Gulf of Mexico Drive. With the caller following and relaying updates, the vehicle was reported to be running without lights and having difficulty maintaining a lane. The caller followed the vehicle to a condo complex in the 4200 block and watched as the driver got out and headed to the elevator. No damage had been done by the vehicle. The registered owner did not match the description of the driver and there was no answer at the door of the condominium associated with the vehicle.

Aug. 5

Thanks for checking

5:42 a.m., 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious vehicle: A patrolling officer suspicious of a car parked in front of a business before its hours of operation stopped to investigate. After ensuring all the doors were secure, he checked criminal databases for active wants or warrants connected to the car's license number. Finding none, he determined the car’s hood was still warm. Just then, he saw a person inside the building making coffee. The person was the office manager who reported periodically coming in early to handle paperwork. The manager thanked the officer for stopping to investigate.

Not that Pitbull

5:57 p.m., 2800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Dog on the beach: A caller who did not wish to be seen or contacted by police reported a woman with a pit bull on the beach in violation of a town regulation banning all dogs but certified assistance dogs from the shoreline. The owner told police she was renting a house and had not crossed through a public beach access point where signs about the town’s dog rules were posted.