Longboat Police officer helps citizen locked in public restroom

Friday, Aug. 4

Safety hazard

4:20 p.m., Jewfish Key  

Boating Citation: On marine patrol, an officer noticed a boat traveling with an excessive wake in a “Slow Speed, Minimum Wake” zone. The marine patrol officer stopped the boat and informed the driver of the violation in the zone. The operator of the boat was also asked to show proof of required safety equipment and was missing a fire extinguisher and proper throwable flotation device. A citation was issued. 

Saturday, Aug. 5 

Wasting water 

9:27 a.m., 500 block of Sutton Place 

Citizen Assist: An officer was dispatched to respond to a water sprinkler that was running all night. On the scene, the responding officer was able to locate the sprinkler and called the property management company. The representative of the company said maintenance would resolve the issue. 

Gesture-and-run

11:30 a.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Suspicious Person: Longboat Key Police Department was asked to respond to a caller who stated a woman and two males made obscene hand gestures toward her. Upon arrival, the complainant and suspicious persons were nowhere to be found. 

Sunday, Aug. 6 

Potty problems 

5:54 p.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Citizen Assist: An officer responded to help someone locked inside the bathroom at Bayfront Park. On arrival, the officer was able to open the door and free the complainant. 

Test drive

8:02 p.m., 500 block of Lyons Lane 

Suspicious Vehicle: A Ferrari speeding up and down the block prompted a police response. On the scene, the officer made contact with the vehicle and owner, and addressed the problem. The owner was advised not to speed down the block anymore. The owner apologized — the vehicle was new. 

Wednesday, Aug. 9

Urban vandalism 

11:45 a.m., 100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Criminal Mischief: An officer was dispatched to New Pass Bridge to investigate graffiti on a road sign. The officer noted that the graffiti did not impact the sign’s structural integrity, and the case was sent to Public Works to clean off the sign. 

Thursday, Aug. 10 

Double duty 

1:04 p.m., Longboat Pass

Boat-Miscellaneous: On marine patrol, an emergency assistance frequency urged the response of a Longboat Key marine patrol officer. Upon arrival, the officer found the 50-foot yacht that was signaling the emergency. The boat with four people on board had run aground and were waiting for commercial assistance. While the officer was waiting for the Coast Guard and the commercial tow, he heard another emergency assistance frequency stating the vessel was taking on water. Longboat Key marine patrol met the Coast Guard and commercial assistance on scene. The agencies were able to use a dewatering pump and get control of the water intrusion. 

Protect (the turtles) and serve (the crabs) 

9:20 p.m., 3800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Suspicious Person: Police received reports of someone with white lights on the beach. An officer was able to locate a group of people in the water with nets, one of whom had a bright headlamp on. The individual said he was unaware of the turtle protection laws, and was harvesting crabs on the beach. A citation was issued.