Officer safely retrieves resident's firearm from flooded home

Friday, Oct. 11

Snake eviction 

1:45 p.m., 3400 block of Mistletoe Lane

Animal Problem: A Longboat Key officer was dispatched to a resident’s call about a snake inside a home. When the officer arrived at the scene, the homeowner said she saw the snake in the lanai and wanted it to be removed by the police. The officer found the snake inside a table cover and moved it outside. 

Canvassing for kayaks 

5:41 p.m., 600 block of Dream Island Road

Suspicious Incident: At the scene of a suspicious incident call, an officer was flagged down by someone who said he saw two men and a woman stealing kayaks nearby. The officer searched the area and found the three people matching the description given by the anonymous tip. The three said they were not stealing kayaks but found one that had been abandoned since Hurricane Helene. The officer said it was not wise to take the kayak, but if they waited a few more days and the kayak was still there, then it would be considered abandoned. The group understood and left the kayak behind. 

Sunday, Oct. 13

Submerged shotgun problem

9:31 a.m., 600 block of Longview Drive

Officer Public Service: An officer was flagged down by a driver needing help. The driver said his home was flooded during the hurricanes and he wanted some help securing his shotgun from his home. The officer entered the man’s home and grabbed the shotgun. After the man said he was afraid to clear the weapon due to it being submerged in water, the officer unloaded the weapon for him. 

No disturbance, just debris

10:45 a.m., 3500 block of Fair Oaks Lane

Suspicious Incident: Dispatch sent an officer to investigate a suspicious incident reported at a home. The officer checked out the residence, which appeared to have tears in the lanai and windows covered in dirt from the latest hurricane. No handprints were visible on the doors and there were no signs of forced entry, so the officer concluded the residence was secure. 

Monday, Oct. 14

Fuming about late delivery

10:53 a.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Civil Disturbance: An officer was called to the Longboat Key Police Station to assist with a civil disturbance. At the station, the officer met with a man who said that in mid-September he ordered about $800 worth of propane from a company in Palmetto and it has yet to be delivered. The man said he needed the propane to run his generator since he did not have power restored. The officer advised the man that the situation between him and the gas company was a civil matter and not theft and that the recent hurricanes may have delayed the delivery schedule. If the order isn’t canceled and the man doesn’t get a refund, the officer said he could sue the company in civil court. 

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Wrong house 

9:43 a.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious Person: A resident called to report suspicious men picking through trash and debris in the Village. When the officer arrived on scene, he met with the complainant who said she had confronted the men sitting outside of their vehicle in front of her home. According to her, the men said they were hired by a man, but the complainant said no one with that man's name lived there and she asked them to leave the property. She was able to give a description of the truck and a logo on its hood, and the officer was later able to find the truck. When speaking with the men who owned the truck, they said they had gone to the wrong address and parked in the complainant’s driveway by mistake. 

Can’t park there

9:56 p.m., 7000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Civil Dispute: Officers were sent to a report of a verbal argument that broke out between two men arguing over a vehicle parked on private property. An officer spoke with the complainant, who said he wanted the truck owner to move the vehicle but did not want to complete a formal trespass warning. Then, the officer spoke with the truck owner, who said he was fishing on the nearby bridge and didn’t realize he parked on private property. He drove the truck off the property without further incident. 

Wednesday, Oct. 16

Dock fire

8:12 a.m., 500 block of Golf Links Lane

Fire: Longboat Key PD was sent to assist with a reported dock fire. At the scene, the officer saw a dock piling smoldering from a fire, and attached electrical boxes appeared to be the cause. Longboat Key Fire Rescue was able to put out the remainder of the fire and ensure the power source was turned off. The agencies spoke with the homeowner by phone and he said he would address the electrical box issues. 

Thursday, Oct. 17

Potential looting

11:15 a.m., 600 block of Buttonwood Drive

Lost/Found Property: An officer responded to a resident’s emergency call about stolen items from the curb of his residence. The homeowner said he had placed a plastic tub on the curb next to the debris pile and now the tub was missing. In the tub were gold pocket watches that were family heirlooms. The officer documented the incident and gave the homeowner a case number and an email to send more detailed descriptions of the items.