Police awaken residents in response to false kidnapping call

Thursday, Nov. 30

False kidnapping call

2:45 a.m., 1500 block of 22nd Street

Kidnapping: Officers were dispatched to a home in response to an armed kidnapping in progress involving several male and female subjects. Once the house was surrounded, all subjects were removed, and it was determined that no kidnapping had occurred. All subjects denied involvement or knowledge about the phone call made to report the non-incident.

Upon arrival, officers set up positions on all sides of the residence. Once the house was surrounded, they began making callouts using a PA system. One resident exited the front door and advised that the home was divided into two sections, that he is the only resident with access through the front door, and that he had just woken up. Further, he said he lives alone in a room at the front of the house and does not interact with the other occupants.

During additional callouts, six residents exited through the rear door and the house was subsequently cleared by officers. Each of the subjects denied knowledge about the call and confirmed that they were not in any danger. Officers cleared the scene and allowed all subjects to return to the home except for one woman who was arrested on an active warrant.

Friday, Dec. 1

In broad daylight

5:05 p.m., 1700 block of Main Street

Criminal mischief: After an appointment at a downtown business, a complainant returned to her street-parked vehicle to find her rear window shattered, the hole in approximately the same size and shape as a baseball bat. There were no valuables visible in the car and it appeared no one made entry.

The victim advised that the vehicle was parked for approximately two hours. The cost of the damage is estimated at approximately $400.

An officer checked footage of a video camera from a business across the street, but the angle of the footage did not show the incident. There was no suspect information or any further evidence available.

Not how we do it back home

7:40 p.m., 3200 block of Huntington Drive

Civil disturbance: A rent dispute prompted a woman to request police assistance in forcing a subject to whom she rented a room to pay $1,000 in overdue rent. She had been renting a spare room to a man and his girlfriend for two months. The officer informed the complainant that the matter is a civil issue and law enforcement cannot require payment.

An officer spoke with the man who advised that the complainant was rude to them for being late with the rent and that they were already packed and moving out of the spare room of the apartment. An officer stood by until they left. The complainant advised that she was not pleased that law enforcement had no authority in the matter, and that in her native country of Nicaragua “things are different.”

Saturday, Dec. 2

Loitering on Golden Gate

6:37 p.m., 300 block of Golden Gate Point

Disturbance: Juveniles loitering outside a condo building on Golden Gate Point had already left the area before an officer arrived. Two complainants advised they had been having issues with juveniles vandalizing the property, and earlier on this day observed three teens who possibly attend Sarasota High School on the property inside a white pickup truck. How it was presumed they attended the school was not specified in the report.

One of the complainants stated that because of the ongoing vandalism she told the teens they cannot loiter on the property. They responded, she said, by becoming verbally aggressive, honking the horn and calling her multiple names. The complainants said they wanted to have the juveniles trespassed if they returned and would immediately contact law enforcement. They added the subjects did not vandalize the property during this incident.