Suspicious man sleeping on park bench resting after rescue from bay

Friday, Nov. 8

Resting after rescue 

8:47 a.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious Person: Longboat Key officers were dispatched to investigate a report of a suspicious man sleeping in the park. The man in question said he was out fishing in Sarasota Bay on his 14-foot boat when he lost his balance because of the waves and fell overboard. He said he spent a while floating in the bay on a personal flotation device before another boat spotted him and rescued him from the water. The captain of that boat brought the overboard boater to Bayfront Park where he was waiting for someone to come pick him up. 

Saturday, Nov. 9

Suspicious person or plastic? 

8:34 p.m., 700 block of El Centro Street

Suspicious Incident: Dispatch sent officers to respond to a burglary in progress. The caller said he saw an unknown man on his Ring doorbell camera trying to break into a unit before fleeing on foot. Upon arrival at the scene, officers canvassed the area and checked on the residence which showed no signs of forced entry. Officers also conducted a fingerprint test on the door handle but were unable to find any. The doorbell footage was reviewed by the officers which showed the camera’s motion sensor was activated due to a plastic covering on the front door. 

Sunday, Nov. 10

Partying through the night

12:04 a.m., 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Civil Disturbance: A citizen called to report a wedding party was using a pool and jacuzzi after hours, and the party repeatedly refused to leave and argued with staff. When officers arrived at the scene, they met with someone from the wedding party who said he just spent a lot of money on a wedding at the hotel and the party wanted to keep using the pool area. Officers advised him that the hotel had rules that needed to be followed. The man and the rest of the wedding party understood and returned to their hotel rooms. 

Canvassing the neighborhood

11 a.m., 600 block of Hideaway Bay Drive

Suspicious Person: A resident called the police to investigate suspicious people taking pictures of and trying to access a property. According to the complainant, two men in yellow vests were showing Longboat Key town identification cards and taking pictures. An officer checked the area and found one of the men, who explained they were taking pictures of storm and flood debris. The complainant understood and said she was worried about people casing the neighborhood. 

Thursday, Nov. 14

Who hit and ran?

7:21 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway

Officer Public Service: An officer was dispatched to respond to a reported hit and run. The responding officer met with the complainant, who said she quickly realized that, because there was no plastic or glass near her vehicle at the time of the officer’s arrival, the car was likely hit earlier in the day when she was in Holmes Beach. The officer advised her to contact Holmes Beach if she wanted to file a report. 

Floated away 

9:48 p.m., 500 block of Cutter Lane

Lost/Found Property: A resident called the Longboat Key PD to report that his 27-foot boat was lost. According to the resident, he returned to his backyard after being away for three hours and, when he returned, the boat was missing. The officer reviewed surveillance footage from the residence and watched the vessel drift away unattended earlier that afternoon. A report was filed in case anyone spotted the runaway vessel.