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Sarasota | Cops Corner

Beach chair bandits shocked at police response
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 3, 2026
Beach chair bandits shocked at police response

Four users of rental beach chairs refused to pay for the afternoon's use or vacate the seaside seats, until the cops arrived. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Man finds out he's not in Miami
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2026
Man finds out he's not in Miami

A man who thinks he is at a hotel in Miami threatens an overnight residential building watchman. This and other tales from the files of the SPD in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Trouble begins when new girlfriend contacts his ex
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 13, 2026
Trouble begins when new girlfriend contacts his ex

Angry man wisely keeps his distance when his beach day date admits to asking his ex about a protective order against him. This and other tales from the files of the SPD in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Witness breaks up a fight in a rolling vehicle
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 13, 2026
Witness breaks up a fight in a rolling vehicle

A man who says another driver robbed him of cash in a store parking light jumped in and fought as he tried to drive away. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Woman smells a scam with fake nude photos threat
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 6, 2026
Woman smells a scam with fake nude photos threat

Believing she was texting with the famous action star, a woman gives bank information to "Keanu Reeves" in extortion scam. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Road rage spills over into convenience store parking lot
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 29, 2026
Road rage spills over into convenience store parking lot

More than insults fly during a road rage incident where a woman throws a water bottle at another woman's car. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Reported kidnapping debunked by video evidence
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • April 22, 2026
Reported kidnapping debunked by video evidence

A witness told officers she saw a child "thrown" into a car trunk, which video showed was "horse play." This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Wailing punk rocker on a trampoline disturbs neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 15, 2026
Wailing punk rocker on a trampoline disturbs neighbors

A backyard neighbor takes offense to loud, profane lyrics of a man jumping on his trampoline while singing a 1990s punk band's tunes. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Woman claims to be at the center of widespread plot to follow her
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 8, 2026
Woman claims to be at the center of widespread plot to follow her

A woman claimed a pickup truck driver โ€” and just about everybody else in the sky and on the ground โ€” is following her. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Man falls for electronic payments scam of $6,000
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • April 1, 2026
Man falls for electronic payments scam of $6,000

While liquidating assets prior to a move, a man transfers three transactions to an alleged buyer before finally figuring out he was conned. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
One martini, one daiquiri and three beers
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 25, 2026
One martini, one daiquiri and three beers

A man told an officer he suspected he was drugged after an evening of drinking left him disoriented and blacked out. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Man makes false battery claim to end an argument
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 11, 2026
Man makes false battery claim to end an argument

Police were called to an alleged battery only to learn a man called 911 to get his ex-girlfriend to leave him alone. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Ex-con tells his mother she has to move out
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • March 4, 2026
Ex-con tells his mother she has to move out

A man claimed his federal probation prohibits co-habitation and that his mother must move out. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Man climbs to the roof of a bar in search of his friend
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 25, 2026
Man climbs to the roof of a bar in search of his friend

A patron of a downtown bar, who was trespassed after being spotted on the roof, said that's the last place he saw his friend. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Property owner accuses contractor of stealing equipment
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 18, 2026
Property owner accuses contractor of stealing equipment

The owner of a commercial property says HVAC employees stole equipment while the contractor calls it a repossession. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Woman scorned breaks up by breaking up boyfriend's property
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 11, 2026
Woman scorned breaks up by breaking up boyfriend's property

When a woman finds evidence of her boyfriend's philandering, she goes on a tirade by destroying more than $6,000 worth of his belongings. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Soccer fight leaves victim's car damaged
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • February 4, 2026
Soccer fight leaves victim's car damaged

A pickup soccer game dispute spilled into a parking lot as one combatant's vehicle was damaged, presumably by an opposing player. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Newfound romance ends abruptly over jealousy
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 28, 2026
Newfound romance ends abruptly over jealousy

An officer drives a heartbroken woman back to her hotel after she was ditched for talking to another man in a hot tub on Lido Key. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
911 caller turns out to be all wet
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 21, 2026
911 caller turns out to be all wet

Denied late night access to a bar, a man weaves an unlikely tale about the bouncer and smells noticeably foul of waste. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Hotel, credit card holder fall victim to illicit fraud
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 14, 2026
Hotel, credit card holder fall victim to illicit fraud

A stolen credit card used to rent two hotel rooms for illicit โ€” likely prostitution โ€” activity runs up a $1,500 unpaid tab. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Man claims assailant was a time traveler
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 7, 2026
Man claims assailant was a time traveler

To explain a fight and minor injury, a man told officers he was the victim of rocks thrown by a sinister time traveler. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Sarasota Cops Corner: The Best of 2025
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 29, 2025
Sarasota Cops Corner: The Best of 2025

With bar fights, nudes and "people trippin," Cops Corner yields another wacky year and shows just what the Sarasota Police Department has to deal with.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Two overnight parties on consecutive nights leave women fighting in the street
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 24, 2025
Two overnight parties on consecutive nights leave women fighting in the street

Only two blocks apart, officers are dispatched to settle disputes resulting from too much late night into early-morning revelry. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Online romance ends in trespassing warning
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 17, 2025
Online romance ends in trespassing warning

Boy meets girl online; boy gives girl credit card number; girl has surprise child and "cousin"; boy lets girl move in; boy finally figures it out. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Clogged toilet plunges landlord and tenant into eviction
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 10, 2025
Clogged toilet plunges landlord and tenant into eviction

A renter threatens to zip-tie a property owner over a plumbing issue in an ongoing whirlpool of discontent. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Man asked female lifeguard to treat private area
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 3, 2025
Man asked female lifeguard to treat private area

A male beachgoer asked a female lifeguard to administer first aid to a jellyfish sting on an intimate region. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Downtown fights highlight post-Halloween night
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 26, 2025
Downtown fights highlight post-Halloween night

A man channels Chuck Norris and a woman as Velma keep officers busy. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Man's dreadlocks cut goes unresolved
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 19, 2025
Man's dreadlocks cut goes unresolved

A man accuses his cousin of cutting his dreads while he slept and gaslighting him to believe he cut them himself. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Lawyer gets propositioned by pretend pervert client
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 12, 2025
Lawyer gets propositioned by pretend pervert client

A female attorney reports receiving lewd texts. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Woman suspects property damage stems from lawsuit
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • November 2, 2025
Woman suspects property damage stems from lawsuit

A condo owner has shattered glass door, suspects it is the result of a suit against her HOA. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Women prevent man from obeying restraining order
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 29, 2025
Women prevent man from obeying restraining order

A man tries to leave a bar in compliance with a protective order but is blocked. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Woman wants HOA to leave her bamboo alone
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 22, 2025
Woman wants HOA to leave her bamboo alone

Calling them emotional support plants a woman says her HOA is damaging bamboo. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Man alleges spying operation at a downtown convenience store
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 15, 2025
Man alleges spying operation at a downtown convenience store

Convinced he was on a CIA and FBI hit list for his knowledge of international espionage, a man kicked a store customer whom he believed was following him. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Car window smashed over a $30 dispute
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 8, 2025
Car window smashed over a $30 dispute

A man tells police his car's rear window was shattered by his girlfriend because he wouldn't give her $30. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Unruly patron puts on a strip show in a downtown bar
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 1, 2025
Unruly patron puts on a strip show in a downtown bar

A man refused service because of intoxication retaliates by dropping his pants. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Man arrested for indecent exposure at Lido Beach Pavilion
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 24, 2025
Man arrested for indecent exposure at Lido Beach Pavilion

After exposing himself to a family at Lido Beach Pavilion, a man returns to the scene of the crime the next day and is arrested. This and other Sarasota Police Department reports in this week's Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
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