Loud argument over commitment issues causes hotel disturbance

Thursday, July 11

Pool float repo

4:35 p.m., 1500 block of Benjamin Franklin Boulevard

Disturbance: Pool floats were snatched from children by adults who claimed ownership of them at a hotel swimming pool. An officer met with a complainant who stated that she was watching her children at the pool when an unknown group of subjects approached and requested the floats because they owned them. 

That’s when a male member of the group, the complainant alleged, became verbally abusive and grabbed one of the kids while repossessing the float. 

The officer interviewed the subjects, who said they had purchased the floats and left them in the pool area earlier in the day, and that when they asked the family to return them, they refused. The accused said he did take the float, but did not lay his hands on the child.

There were no witnesses nor security cameras covering the pool area. The hotel manager stated the complainant’s family had stayed at the hotel for several days and were chronic complainers regarding the food and accommodations. It was determined no crime was committed and no further action was taken.

Friday, July 12

West side story

10:28 p.m., 400 block of John Ringing Causeway

Disturbance: In an incident reminiscent of the broadway classic West Side Story, a dispute had erupted between two groups of juveniles at Hart’s Landing. A witness to the scene told an officer he believed one group had broadcast via social media to another gang of youthful street toughs, after which more juveniles arrived and the altercation began.

While no choreographed fight-dancing was involved, the witness said the dispute had been verbal in nature only, and while the groups had been threatening to engage in fisticuffs, no actual blows were exchanged. By the time officers arrived on the scene, the bickering juveniles had separated, several of them already having left the pier, perhaps in search of other turf to claim as their own … until bedtime.

Officers made contact with the remaining juveniles, and told them that they needed to avoid future conflict if they wanted to remain on the pier without further police involvement. They advised them to keep their distance and it was suggested to those who were not fishing to leave the pier and find somewhere else to loiter if they were unable to get along.

One group agreed to leave the area, and the others resumed fishing.

Saturday, July 13

Good fences, bad neighbors

8:57 a.m., 3700 block of Colorado Street

Civil dispute: A homeowner was attempting to fix his damaged fence when he had to access the other side of the structure in his neighbor’s yard to complete the repairs. That’s when his neighbor came out of his house and began to yell at him to leave his property.

Because the man was aware the irate neighbor owns firearms, he decided to exit the property to avoid further conflict. The neighbor told an officer the fence was on his property and believed the complainant to be trespassing. 

The complainant told officers there is a 2-foot easement between his fence and the neighbor’s property, at which time they advised both parties that they possessed no expertise in surveying and could not determine whose claim was correct. They advised the two call the city and have their land surveyed to settle the fence fracas.

The incident report concludes, “Based on my investigation, this was a civil matter between two neighbors who can’t act like adults.”

Sunday, July 14

Mean streets 

2:20 a.m., 1500 block of Main Street

Fight: During a routine foot patrol, two officers happened upon a large group of subjects involved in a physical altercation in the area of Main Street and North Lemon Avenue. With approximately 15 to 20 subjects in the middle of the road, the officers responded on foot and announced themselves as police. 

Although the subjects swiftly dispersed, another large crowd began to form in the area as several more units responded to assist with crowd control. Officers did not receive any allegations or requests to document a report.

Officers remained on scene until the crowd dispersed.

Cold feet, hot tempers

11:39 p.m., 100 block of Marina View Drive

Dispute: Having overheard hotel guests involved in a loud argument, two officers were escorted by a hotel security officer to the room where, from the outside, a male and female could be heard shouting. 

Interviewing the couple separately, the officers heard a corroborating story that the pair were arguing over the status of their relationship. Having dated for five years, the woman said she wants to get married while the man said — even after half a decade — he does not feel ready to take the final plunge. 

Both declined to identify themselves and said the argument was verbal in nature.