The medical alert button worked, but there was no emergency

Saturday, Dec. 3

No smoke, no fire

10:01 a.m., 1100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Alarm: Police and fire-rescue personnel converged on a resident at which a smoke alarm had been triggered. Once first responders arrived, though, they learned from a maintenance worker the alarm had been set off by a faulty switch, on which he was working. No smoke or signs of a fire were found.

No emergency

10:58 p.m., 1200 block of Bogey Lane

Alarm: An officer called to a home by an activated personal medical alarm initially knocked on the door of the residence with no answer. He found an unlocked sliding door on the home’s patio area and announced himself, along with fire-rescue. The resident said she had likely rolled over while sleeping and accidentally pushed the necklace-pendant’s activation button. She told the first responders that she was fine and needed no emergency assistance.

Sunday, Dec. 4

Here’s what to do

4:41 p.m., police headquarters

Citizen assist: A dispute with a contractor prompted a property owner to come to the police station to speak with an officer. The officer recommended the owner call either 911 or the police department’s front desk after 9 a.m. on the following business day to request a civil stand-by officer while the contractor removes tools from the property. No threats of violence had been passed, the owner said, adding he had been on contact with a lawyer.

Monday, Dec. 5

Tricky navigation

10:30 a.m., 500 block of Ketch Lane

Boating call: Police and the Public Works Department worked together to help clear Hurricane Ian debris floating in a residential canal that threatened to impede boat navigation in the bayfront community. Numerous items were removed and carried off by a city vehicle.

Tuesday, Dec. 6

Word is getting around…

7:18 a.m., 500 block of Jessmyth Drive

Noise complaint: A report of construction noise earlier than the allowable hour of 8 a.m. was investigated but determined to be unfounded. An officer arrived to see several contractor vehicles parked in the area, though he did not hear any noise. The work team’s foreman said he was aware of town rules regarding work noise and that he and his crew had just arrived. He added he would make sure not to begin work until 8 a.m.

…Well, maybe not

7:20 a.m., 500 block of Putter Lane

Noise complaint: A cement mixer and pumping device were making noise when an officer arrived to investigate a report of earlier-than-allowed construction taking place. The officer explained the town’s 8 a.m. threshold for such activities and issued a warning for the violation.

Not a stone-cold lock

10:05 p.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Unsecure premises: An officer making a routine security check of a business found an unlocked door and stepped inside to investigate. He found nothing out of the ordinary and no one inside. The officer left a business card on a desk and locked the door behind him as he let.

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Not human

9:46 a.m., 3000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious incident: The Medical Examiner’s office determined that a bone found along the shore by a beachgoer was not human. An officer sent to investigate the report was not immediately able to ascertain the bone’s origin and sent a photo for deeper investigation. Less than two hours later, an answer was received from an Medical Examiner’s office investigator.

A lot of noise

11:59 a.m., 700 block of Longboat Club Road

Noise complaint: An officer was not able to find anyone using an air horn to scare away birds, even though a caller who did not wish to leave a name or meet with an officer reported it to be so.

Not any old lug wrench

1:37 p.m., 2100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: Sent to investigate a report of a disabled vehicle blocking the road, an officer arrived to find an imported sport coupe with a flat tire. The driver said emergency road service was on the way. A specialized tool was required to remove the tire, so the officer waited until help arrived.

Thursday, Dec. 8

Parking lot dust-up

10:50 a.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway

Citizen dispute: At police headquarters, a resident reported an encounter in a shopping center parking lot that prompted her visit. She said a man in a black sedan yelled at her and accused her of driving too fast, then began video recording her from his car while threatening to report her to police. No threats of violence were made. The man was last seen heading west on Bay Isles Parkway. The woman was told to call 911 if she sees the man in the car again.

Blinky lights

8:40 p.m., 3700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: A resident notified police of an all-terrain vehicle with its flashing caution lights still operating, parked near a Public Works Department installation. The caller said he was concerned about the equipment’s battery dying. The officer said he was unable to find the vehicle’s light switch, so he alerted the Public Works Department. A staffer there said the machine did not belong to the town, but that he would alert the contractor who owns it.