Construction vehicle whacked traffic cones

Friday, Aug. 30

Not enough wind 

2:46 p.m., 2500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Marine Rescue: While an officer was doing some maintenance on a patrol vessel, dispatch sent the officer to a marine rescue for a sailboat in distress. Officers responded to the rescue call and found the boat with its owner, who said the wind had died and he was unable to get the boat back to shore. The officers escorted the boat and its owner back to shore, and the man assured officers he did not need medical attention. 

Saturday, Aug. 31

Unruly drinker

7:46 p.m., 1600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Disturbance: An officer was dispatched to a disturbance at a nearby bar. Upon arrival, a security staff member told the officer there was a man at the bar who became unruly after being told he would not be given any more drinks. According to the security guard’s report, the man made inappropriate remarks toward staff members, paid his tab and left down the beach. The officer canvassed the area but was unable to find the man. 

Tuesday, Sept. 3

Mysterious parked car

11:15 a.m., 3000 block of Harbourside Drive 

Officer Public Service: A report about a suspicious abandoned vehicle asked for police assistance. According to the report, the vehicle had been parked in the lot for over a month with no license plate. The officer looked up the vehicle’s VIN, which came back negative as being a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was also not registered, and staff at the property advised they would have the car towed. 

Chemical spill

8:02 p.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Highway Obstruction: Dispatch reported a traffic hazard around this block of GMD, which prompted police response. Four gallon-sized bottles of muriatic acid — a common acid used for cleaning, etching concrete and coat sealing — spilled in the roadway. Longboat Key Fire Rescue also arrived on scene and washed the chemicals off the road. 

Wednesday, Sept. 4

Temporary traffic control 

12:33 p.m., Bay Isles Parkway 

Officer Public Service: A citizen called to report a traffic signal that was flashing yellow on GMD and red on Bay Isles Parkway. The Florida Department of Transportation was notified, and two officers conducted traffic control until Longboat Key Public Works arrived on scene and fixed the lights. 

Damaged driveway cones  

3:06 p.m., 600 block of Marbury Lane 

Property Damage: Longboat Key PD was dispatched to a report of property damage caused by a blue truck. Dispatch advised the officer where the truck was heading, and the officer was able to locate the vehicle and stop it. The truck was found to be registered to a construction company. The officer spoke with the driver and advised him of the reason behind the stop. The driver said he was told by the homeowner — the caller — that he ran over two traffic cones that were at the end of the driveway. He went on to tell the officer that it was an accident, and he provided the homeowners with his contact information. Officers then followed up with the homeowners who said this was an ongoing issue with construction workers and commercial vehicles driving down the street. The homeowners said they did not witness the vehicle hit the traffic cones but would check their security cameras. It was agreed that they would settle the issue with the construction company in a civil matter.