Longboat Key Cops Corner: Suspicion is in the eye of the beholder

Friday, Oct. 15

Eye of the beholder

12:52 p.m., 600 block of Bayview Drive

Suspicious incident: Sensing something was amiss, a resident called police to report an open rear door on a residence. The officer sent to investigate reported finding a vacant home under construction and in less than ideal condition. The rear door was indeed ajar, but the hinges were rusted to the point of no longer working. A new door and casing could be seen just inside. The officer reported nothing suspicious at the property, based on his observations.

Mistakes were made

1:32 p.m., 1900 block of Harbourside Drive

Suspicious incident: A resident grew concerned about items moved from a community’s common area. The officer assigned to the case arrived and learned from a maintenance worker that the situation had been cleared up. The maintenance worker told the officer another resident had moved the items to another location by mistake. No further investigation was necessary.

Saturday, Oct. 16

All gas, no brakes

1:13 p.m., near Jewfish Key

Boating warning: A personal watercraft was stopped by the town’s marine patrol officer after it was seen operating at speed and creating a wake in a slow speed, minimum wake zone, which is marked by signs. The officer issued the craft’s operator a warning and educated the operator on the requirements of such a restricted zone.

Please continue

2:03 p.m., 3200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Noise complaint: Noise from a construction zone was brought to the attention of police, who arrived on the scene to find progress being made on a parking garage. According to town rules, work noise is permitted until 5 p.m. on a Saturday. With no infraction to enforce, the officer cleared the scene and resumed patrol.

Sunday, Oct. 17

See you in court

12:07 p.m., Near Sister Keys

Boating infraction: The town’s marine patrol officer watched as a vessel navigated with an excessive wake through an area marked for 25 mph in the Intracoastal Waterway and slow speed, minimum wake outside the channel. Upon stopping the boat, the police officer reported its operator immediately began yelling and using profanity toward the officer and saying he was only going 35 mph. Following additional yelling and cursing, and because the boat operator admitted proceeding 10 mph higher than allowable speed, the officer delivered a verbal warning for speed and the operator’s inability to produce registration paperwork as required. The boater was cited for violation of speed and wake zone requirements. The boater continued to yell and use profanity, ending with a promise to see the officer in court.

Monday, Oct. 18

Hard to find fires

11:32 p.m., 4500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Fire assist: A caller who did not wish to be identified alerted police to the possibility of campfires on the beach. Firefighters and police were unable to find any fires on the beach in the area described.

Tuesday, Oct. 19

Now, no drinking, right?

4:46 p.m., 2800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious person: A caller reported five or six people on the beach, drinking and grilling. The caller did not want to meet with police. An officer arrived to find a group of people around a covered grill. The officer told the group why he was there and assured them that grilling was permitted, but drinking alcohol was not. The officer reported seeing no alcoholic drinks with the group.

Tangled web

7:09 p.m., 700 Longboat Club Road

Boating call:  An officer was asked to check out a report of fishermen using nets. The officer contacted the caller and said fishermen were allowed to use nets to catch fish, but that he would pass along the report to officers of the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. An FWC dispatcher took the information from the officer and asked for contact information to glean additional information on the sighting from the caller.

Thursday, Oct. 21

Paperwork

11:14 a.m., 2600 block of Harbourside Drive  

Citizen dispute: The manager of a business called police to seek a report on a problem he had been having with a contractor who would not abide by rules to check in with the front desk before proceeding to the work. The manager said the issue was cleared up without incident but that he wanted a report with which to document the proceedings.

There it is

11:50 a.m., 500 block of Kingfisher Lane

Lost property: While an officer was en route to take a report of a lost wallet, the owner found what he was looking for in a suitcase. The made told the officer of his discovery upon the officer’s arrival, and there was nothing further to report.

Is there a mechanic in the house?

2:38 p.m., Longboat Pass bridge

Citizen assist: An officer responded to Longboat Pass bridge on a report of a stuck drawbridge gate, which was in the down position and holding up traffic. A bridge mechanic had to be called to the scene, which was cleared up promptly. Traffic resumed a normal flow shortly thereafter.

Friday, Oct. 22

The tide is high

2:30 a.m., 7000 block of Longboat Drive North

Citizen assist: A resident called police to alert them to a potential water leak that was causing standing water on the road. The officer sent to investigate replied that the source of the water was likely a high tide, which was backing up through storm drains. The caller disagreed and said he could hear the leaking water from his vantage point. The officer shone his flashlight across the street to a sprinkler system that was running. The caller at that point realized the tide, which had been at its peak not long earlier, was the likely culprit.