False shoplifting accusation results in a 44-cent refund

Saturday, May 6

A 44-cent refund

1:35 p.m., 3500 block of South Tamiami Trail

Dispute: A man was falsely accused of stealing bananas at a grocery store. The accused told the officer he wasn’t upset about being charged 44 cents for the potassium-rich fruit, but he did want an apology from the staff for being accused. The store manager admitted he had no proof of a theft and refunded the accused his 44 cents. No word on whether an apology was given.

Argument over chores

11:36 a.m. 2400 block of Orange Avenue

Family disturbance: A mother called police because she was having an argument with her 14-year-old daughter, who she said threw a temper tantrum and multiple items on the bedroom floor. The argument was over the subject not wanting to perform her required domestic chores.

The daughter was sitting on her bed and calm when the officer spoke with her, who said the argument was over her mother being loud all morning while she was trying to sleep. The officer determined the verbal dispute to be civil in nature, although they remained angry with each other.

Sunday, May 7

Eggs-cessive vandalism

10:43 a.m., 2800 block of Browning Street

Criminal mischief: A woman noticed upon waking up in the morning that her vehicle and home had been egged overnight, sometime after 11 p.m. when she arrived home. She advised she was able to wash the eggs off the vehicle, but yolk was stuck to the front of the house, which will require her to paint the facade at a cost of approximately $500. 

The victim also advised her mailbox had been knocked over overnight on April 30, along with three others adjacent to her home. She was able to return the mailbox to its original position. She said four residences around hers have video surveillance, but nothing was captured. Should the perpetrators be apprehended, the victim said she wished to seek prosecution.

Monday, May 8

License and proof of insurance, please

10:37 a.m., 800 block of South Osprey Avenue

Civil disturbance: Officers met with the head maintenance employee of a property, regarding a disturbance. The complainant stated a contractor working in one of the residential units became agitated when asked for proof of a contractor’s license and insurance. The subject then approached him and pointed a finger in his face, he claimed.

The officer contacted the subject and asked him to provide proof of license and insurance, which he could not. The complainant said he has contacted code enforcement, which would soon arrive and further investigate. The disturbance was determined to be verbal and nonviolent. 

Wednesday, May 10

Vandalism in another language

8:11 a.m., 900 block of Signal Pointe Circle

Criminal mischief: An officer met with the victim who speaks only Portuguese and had to use a translator app on his department phone to communicate. The victim advised that his ex-wife, who knows neither her own last name nor date of birth, came to his apartment, threw his clothes and damaged two of his drawers. 

The victim advised his ex-wife’s sister and brother-in-law still reside in the home and that she comes to visit occasionally. He said the incident occurred while he was at work. He said he does not wish to pursue charges and requests the ex-wife not return to the apartment. No further action was taken.