Police respond to guest angry that resort doesn’t sell cigarettes

Saturday, July 27

Raccoon lounge

10:58 a.m., 2200 block of Harbourside Drive

Animal Problem: A Longboat Key officer was asked to check out a report of a raccoon laying on top of a resident’s lanai cage. At the residence, the officer spoke with the resident who said the raccoon had been there for a couple hours. The officer thought the raccoon appeared to be sick and asked for backup from animal services. While waiting for backup, the officer used a pool cleaning stick to direct the raccoon away from the house. The raccoon climbed off of the roof and tried looking for an escape route, which led the officer to believe it wasn’t sick after all. Backup was canceled, and the resident was advised to call again and request animal services if the raccoon returned. 

Monday, July 29

Not a convenience store  

12:03 a.m., 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Disturbance: Dispatch sent officers to respond to a disturbance at a local resort. The responding officers met with the person-in-question, who was upset at the staff because they did not sell cigarettes. According to the officers’ report, the person was intoxicated and being loud, but eventually complied when asked to return to her room. The officers were familiar with her, though, as she was the subject of another call two days prior. 

May I order an … officer?

8:55 p.m., 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Abandoned 911 Call: An officer responded to an abandoned 911 call which was placed by a resort guest. The guest said she was attempting to call for room service and misdialed. Everything was fine, but the report did not mention if she ended up getting the room service. 

Thursday, Aug. 1

No damage done, but no driver's license 

10:09 a.m., 600 block of Marbury Lane

Civil Disturbance: Officers investigated a reported civil dispute between a homeowner and landscapers. The landscapers parked their truck next to the officers at the scene and the officers asked the driver to explain what happened. The driver said he was in a verbal argument with a homeowner because he drove over the residence’s grass due to the narrow street, but he said he did not damage the yard. The officer asked the driver for his license so that the incident could be documented, but the driver admitted that he did not possess a driver’s license. 

One of the officers called the complainant, who also said the argument was strictly verbal, and both agreed no damage was done to the property. Since the landscaping driver admitted to not having a driver’s license, he ended up receiving a criminal citation. 

Illegal way to enter the ocean

12:01 p.m., 7200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Juvenile Disturbance: A caller reported that there was a group of juveniles jumping off the Longboat Pass Bridge, and Longboat Key officers responded to check out the scene. At the bridge, an officer spoke with the group who said they were fishing and jumping off the bridge. The officer advised them that jumping off the bridge was not only dangerous but in violation of Florida State Statute. The group was let off with a warning, but the officer said if they were caught again that they would receive citations.