Cops Corner

Attempt to return batteries to grocery store ends in trespass warning

A civil disturbance broke out at a store after a woman tried returning batteries without a receipt. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.


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Saturday, Dec. 2

Hit and run

8:50 a.m., 200 block of Sands Point road

Citizen Assist: Police were dispatched to investigate a crash involving a semi-truck and a bicycle. When an officer arrived on scene, no crash was in sight. The officer then contacted the caller, who said she witnessed a semi-truck possibly hit a bicyclist and saw the bicyclist fall off the bike. She said the bicyclist had a verbal exchange before continuing down Gulf of Mexico Drive. The officer was unable to locate both parties.


Botched delivery 

8:17 p.m., 700 block of Old Compass Road

Citizen Assist: Dispatch asked a Longboat Key officer to call a resident who said mysterious Amazon packages were arriving at his in-laws’ house. The caller said packages with an unfamiliar name were arriving and was wondering if there were any other reported scams in the area. The officer advised him to contact Amazon about the issue.


Sunday, Dec. 3

Long bathroom break

5:06 p.m., 2100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Citizen Assist: An officer responded to assist a man locked inside an outdoor bathroom. When the officer arrived on scene, the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department had successfully freed the citizen.


Monday, Dec. 4

Broken boat 

11 a.m., New Pass

Boat-Miscellaneous: While on marine patrol, an officer noticed an anchored vessel close to a shoal west of New Pass. The officer contacted the captain who said the vessel had a broken rudder and was in danger of drifting into the shoal. He said he tried requesting a tow, but heard nothing back from the tow company. The officer was able to get in contact with the tow company, and stood by until the tow arrived.


Wrong button

4 p.m., 600 block of Rountree Drive

Alarm: Police were dispatched to an activated alarm and, upon callback, the distress signal was given. At the residence, the officer made contact with the homeowner, who said she had accidentally given the distress signal instead of the passcode.


Tuesday, Dec. 5

No receipt, no return

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

Trespassing: An officer responded to a civil disturbance call at a grocery store. At the scene, the officer met with an employee who said a woman was trying to return batteries without a receipt. The woman allegedly began yelling and cursing at the employees. The officer talked with the customer outside of the store and issued her a trespass warning for one year. She said she will never come back to the area after the incident.


Wednesday, Dec. 6

Lost license 

10:36 a.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Lost Property: A resident visited the Longboat Key Police Department to advise she had lost her out-of-state driver’s license. She said she was unsure when she lost it, but had plans on replacing it next time she went back. As the police report was being finalized that day, she called back to say she had found the driver’s license stuck to a gift card inside her purse.


Off-road golf cart

11:27 a.m., 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen Assist: An officer noticed a golf cart partially submerged in a golf course pond and spoke with the nearby employee. He said he was alright and not injured. Fellow employees were able to help remove the golf cart. 


Thursday, Dec. 7

Suspicious singing

5:59 a.m., 100 block of Sands Point Road

Noise Complaints: Multiple officers were dispatched to a noise complaint called in by someone who heard yelling early in the morning. The officers spoke with the noisy neighbor who said he was singing while cleaning. He also said he had the door open to let the breeze in and appeared to have had an alcoholic beverage prior to officers arriving on scene. Officers also checked with the man’s mother, who advised she was also OK. 


Something smelly 

1:41 p.m., 600 block of Linley Street

Citizen Assist: A resident asked for police assistance investigating a “strong foul odor” coming from a neighbor’s backyard. When the officer walked into the caller’s backyard, he smelled the strong odor and determined it may be a health hazard. The officer then spoke with the neighbor, who said the smell was a compost bin. He was unaware of the smell, and said he would move it away from the adjacent fence. 

 

author

Carter Weinhofer

Carter Weinhofer is the Longboat Key news reporter for the Observer. Originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, he moved to St. Petersburg to attend Eckerd College until graduating in 2023. During his entire undergraduate career, he worked at the student newspaper, The Current, holding positions from science reporter to editor-in-chief.

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