Police evict unwanted raccoon from fourth floor of condo

Friday, Feb. 21

'What's down there?' 

3:22 a.m., 3300 block of Bayou Road

Alarm: A homeowner reported hearing a security alarm in their residence from the basement motion activation system. An officer arrived on the scene and spoke with the spooked homeowner who asked the officer to check his basement. The officer checked the basement but found nothing out of the ordinary and all windows and doors appeared to be secure. 

Saturday, Feb. 22

Raccoon eviction 

6 p.m., 4600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal Problem: Officers were sent to deal with a raccoon that was on the fourth floor of a condominium building for several hours. The responding officers contacted Manatee County Animal Services, which told the officers it would only respond to emergencies. The Longboat Key officers then had to take matters into their own hands, eventually removing the raccoon with a 5-foot animal snare. The raccoon was released back into the wild with minor injuries, the report states. 

Sunday, Feb. 23

Suspicious, large marine life

8:35 a.m., 100 block of Broadway Street

Animal Problem: Dispatch sent an officer to investigate a citizen’s report of a dead manatee washed on shore. At the scene, the officer discovered it was not a manatee but rather a goliath grouper dead on the beach. The officer contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to inform them it was not a manatee, and Longboat Key Public Works was notified. 

Monday, Feb. 24

Lodging not received 

2:20 p.m., 5100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Civil Disturbance: A citizen called to report she had been scammed out of $7,000. She told the responding officer her home was destroyed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and a neighbor put her in contact with a man from a local resort to arrange a stay. The complainant said she reached out to the man and paid him with a $7,000 check for lodging, but she claimed she never was provided lodging. When she tried to confront the man and ask for a refund, he was uncooperative. She then had to relocate out of state until recently and now wants to address the situation. The officer advised her this was a civil matter which could be taken up in civil court. 

Thursday, Feb. 27

Beach chair beef

5:59 p.m., 5200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen Assist: A resident reported a group of fishermen using beach chairs belonging to a rental property. At the scene, the officer spoke to the fishermen who said they were staying at the nearby rental property and claimed they were given permission to use the chairs. The officer advised them about the complaint made, so the fishermen returned the chairs without incident. 

Smokey dish 

6:14 p.m., 2400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Alarm: Dispatch sent the Longboat Key Police and Fire Rescue Departments to a fire alarm. The LBKFRD responded first and advised the alarm was triggered by cooking smoke and there was no emergency. Police assistance was canceled.