Guest owed $15,000 in unpaid hotel bill

Thursday, Sept. 12

Listen to your mother

10:57 p.m., 1800 block of 29th Street

Family dispute: After her son refused to go to bed when told, an officer was dispatched to resolve the dispute. The complainant stated that when her son returned home for the late in the evening with school the next day, an argument broke out between them and other family members after he defied her order.

Speaking with the son outside of the home, he told the officer he could not sleep because other family members were in the bedroom, to which the mother advised that they exited the room. The minor then stated that he wasn't going to sleep and seemed upset because he was being yelled at and disciplined by his mother. The officer advised that he should listen to his mother, and after some time he re-entered the residence and went to bed.

Friday, Sept. 13

Sideswiped by bikes

10:45 a.m., 900 block Ringling Causeway

Disturbance: As a woman was walking on the John Ringling Causeway, she told an officer that three males passed her while they were riding their bicycles, which was a startling experience. Rather than using the dedicated bike lane, the subjects were riding their bicycles on the walkway where signs are posted stating that riders must dismount their bikes and walk. 

The complainant stated that an exchange of words between the males ensued, and added that bikes in the walkway are a regular occurrence when she walks the bridge. The officer pledged to conduct extra patrols in the area and to notify the traffic unit and officers working the other shifts to do the same.

Saturday, Sept. 14

A large unpaid tab

4:06 p.m., 1000 block of Ritz Carlton Drive

Civil dispute: With a guest having run up a hefty tab since checking in on Aug. 9, a hotel’s director of loss prevention called law enforcement for assistance. He said the male guest had made three payments to the hotel using different credit cards in the past, but as the bill surpassed $15,000, collecting became more challenging as the guest gave numerous excuses for not settling up.

The complainant said the guest, who was not on the scene at the time, has personal belongings in the room and medicine that he is required to take on a nightly basis. He said the hotel had planned to hold his personal belongings as collateral, but would return his meds to him.

While on the scene, the complainant called the guest and spoke to him regarding the bill, to which he replied he would return to the hotel and pay half of the bill, then pay the rest on Monday. Having struck an accord, they agreed to meet later in the day. The complainant was advised to contact SPD should further assistance be required.

Alcohol was involved

6:55 p.m., 1500 block of Ken Thompson Parkway

Disturbance: Two officers responded to what was reported as a suicide threat, only to find two inebriated subjects, one of them engaging in reckless behavior. The complainant advised her boyfriend was walking in traffic with blatant disregard for his life. Both parties were observed to be “extremely intoxicated” and had been arguing over relationship issues.

The man said he was not suicidal and he had been attempting to cross the street to distance himself from his girlfriend to “cool off.” Both of them agreed that they needed to return home and sober up. The woman’s brother arrived at the scene and transported both their respective homes.

Sunday, Sept. 15

They checked the cameras

1:37 a.m., 1500 block of Main Street

Disturbance: Officers made contact with a late-night bar patron who was repeatedly screaming “Check the cameras!” At issue was the subject’s accusation that a bouncer was waving a gun at him while continuously shouting at the officers.

One officer met with security staff of the restaurant and bar who all stated that none of them were carrying a gun. They explained the man was being escorted out of the building when he began to cause a scene at the door. Staff had told the man to leave multiple times after making uninvited advances on another patron, but he refused.

Another officer did indeed “check the cameras,” reviewing video footage with the manager, which confirmed that no weapon was brandished. In addition, no other witnesses said they saw a gun. The officers advised the subject that he would be arrested and issued a trespassing warning if he did not leave of his own accord. Instead, he continued screaming and was handcuffed and transported to Sarasota County Jail.