Assault by hat and a missing orange shoe lead to eviction

Wednesday, Feb. 14

Mad hatter

12:44 p.m., 1800 block of 24th Street

Disturbance: Accused of taking one of her aunt’s orange basketball shoes, a complainant met officers on the street in front of her residence and was visibly upset. She said she gotten into an argument with her aunt who she accused of throwing a hat at her. The argument was over the lone missing shoe. It was not specified whether the shoe was for the right or left foot.

The aunt also said the complainant she was no longer welcome on the property, where she had been storing her own property and living in a shed behind the house. The complainant said she was unaware of the whereabouts of the missing shoe and allowed the officer to search the shed, which turned up nothing.

The subject denied throwing a hat at her niece, and wheeled a basket of her belongings to the sidewalk where they could be retrieved. The complainant agreed to separate and to not return to the property.

Thursday, Feb 15

Fire extinguisher vandalism

1:18 a.m., 2100 block of Ringling Boulevard

Criminal mischief: An officer located a fire extinguisher in a corner of a county-owned parking garage that had been removed from its mount and used to spray the floor in the area where it had been hung. There was no damage to the mount, and the officer reported being unable to determine if graffiti also painted in the area was recent or had been there previously.

The officer determined that an unknown subject had removed the pin to activate the extinguisher and spray the ground. The individual who called to report the incident did not wish to meet or provide a statement. The extinguisher was delivered to the SPD and was advised that the Sarasota County Fire Department would need to be contacted to replace the device.

Friday, Feb. 16

Take a seat

1:13 p.m., 4900 block of David Avenue

Dispute: A new water heater and a squatter, literally, on a sump pump presumably located on property next door were the sources of a dispute. The complainant called law enforcement after becoming involved in a dispute with her neighbor, explaining she had recently installed a water heater at her home and needed access to the sump pump. 

She said the neighbor denied her access to the sump pump by sitting on the ground and covering the pump with her body. When she refused to move, the complainant called police for assistance. 

The subject said she sat on the pump because the location is owned by her father and she didn’t understand why the complainant needed access. As it turns out, the sump pump was located in city of Sarasota property. After this was explained, the subject removed herself from the pump and left the location.

Saturday, Feb. 17

Parking lot rage

9:35 p.m., 1500 block of Main Street

Disturbance: Multiple individuals were engaged in a parking lot over an allegation of a damaged vehicle. Officers made contact with two complainants who advised that while walking into the parking lot from Main Street, a vehicle passed by one of them closely enough to nearly striking her. As a result, she said she tapped on the rear passenger side of the vehicle, prompting the driver to exit the vehicle and confront the pair. 

As they were entering their own vehicle, the subject approached them and shoved the driver’s side rear panel, causing a dent estimated at approximately $1,400 in damages. When an officer asked the subject why, he said, “Because she hit my car.” He was then asked if his own vehicle was damaged, and he confirmed it was not.

The owner of the damaged vehicle, who was not a party to the incident, advised she did not wish to press charges.