Police help a Longboat Key beachgoer find belongings

Friday, May 19

Bird in need

9:56 a.m., 600 block of Roundtree 

Animal complaint: An officer was dispatched for a report of a bird hanging from a tree upside down. While on the scene, the bird fell to the ground. The officer transported it to Save Our Seabirds. 

Against policy 

9:25 p.m., 2600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Citizen assist: Police were called to the scene of a broken down vehicle. Upon arrival, the driver asked if police could assist in jump starting their car. However, it is against police policy to jump start a citizen’s vehicle. The individual told police that they had already contacted AAA. 

Saturday, May 20

Helping out 

12:22 p.m., 5500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Citizen assist: Police responded to reports of a water leak behind the Public Works maintenance facility at Durante Park. Personnel requested the officer turn off the pump to keep it from seizing up. 

Sunday, May 21

Not a theft

4:56 p.m., 100 block of Broadway 

Citizen assist: Officers were dispatched on report of a theft. They met with the caller, who said an unknown person had taken her purse, flip-flops and beach blanket and left the beach. One of the officers canvassed the area and was not able to locate any of the items, but did notice a security camera. Officers asked the caller to show where she was sitting on the beach. She then realized she had placed her items further down the beach. The officers walked with her to her belongings and made sure everything was still there. 

Tomorrow's problem

9:57 p.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Citizen assist: The caller told police about a car parked at the address running with its lights on in the bushes. Upon arrival, the officer located the vehicle in question; it was not running. The vehicle had been parked in the same spot for two days with its lights on and belonged to the property owner. Police called the owner, who promised to turn off the lights when upon returning in the morning. 

Monday, May 22 

Changing registration

1:02 p.m., Longboat Key Police Department 

VIN serial number inspection: A resident entered the department for assistance with VIN verification. She had driven her vehicle down from northern Michigan so it could be registered to her home on Longboat Key. After receiving a negative result for wants and warrants, department staff stamped her DMV paperwork and sent her on her way. 

Filling up 

3:23 p.m., 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Traffic hazard: A driver was using an air compressor filling up a flat left tire on the side of the road. The officer put on his safety vest and directed traffic around the vehicle until it the tire was filled with air and the vehicle was back on the road. 

Tuesday, May 23

False alarm

7:02 p.m., 7200 Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Suspicious incident: The officer was dispatched to reports of a fight on a boat near Longboat Pass Bridge. While en route, dispatch notified the officer there was not a fight and the boat in question was leaving the area. Officers still checked out the area and did not see any fights. 

Thursday, May 25

Work day is over

5:11 p.m., 600 block of Jackson Way 

Noise complaints from land: Construction work after 5 p.m. prompted a call to police. The responding officer met with the contractor and advised the workers of their noise ordinance violation. Work ceased immediately and a written warning was issued. 

Just a little snake

9:09 p.m., 500 block of Putter Lane

Animal complaint: Police responded to a call about a snake in the property’s enclosed patio. A small orange and brown snake was located in the corner of the patio and the officer relocated it outside the enclosure.