Cops Corner: Pelican Press

ApriL 27
The Going rate
12:04 p.m. — 300 block of Avenida Madera. Trespassing. When officers responded to a man’s report of feeling threatened, they found prescription bottles and men’s clothes strewn about the property. When the property manager was contacted, they said the residence should be empty. They requested the man be trespassed, but their office did not press charges. The trespasser had recently demanded to rent the residence for $1 per month, and they said they felt sorry for him.

April 28
Balancing act
12:09 a.m. — Ocean Boulevard and Calle Miramar. Driving Under the Influence. An officer pulled over a man he observed driving without his headlights on. The officer observed the odor of alcohol and noticed the man’s eyes were glazed. While the officer was explaining a field sobriety test, the man appeared confused and had to be told again. He refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test and swayed and used his arms for balance while performing the “one leg test.”

Trading places
2:35 a.m. — Canal Road and Avenida De Mayo. Driving with a Suspended License. After observing a car being driven without its headlights on, an officer pulled over a vehicle containing two men. When the car came to a stop, the driver switched seats with a rear passenger, then told the officer that he had not been driving. He handed the officer a Florida identification card. He was placed under arrest after the officer discovered he was a habitual traffic offender.

SMASHING SUSPECT
5:43 p.m. — North Shell Road and Solymar Drive. Criminal Mischief. A woman notified another woman that her Lexus had had its window smashed. The woman saw whom she described as a bald, white male with numerous tattoos on his shoulders and back. He was suspected to have a hammer or crowbar in his possession. Nothing was missing from the vehicle.

April 30
POSSESSIONS PILFERED
11:02 a.m. — 1000 block of West Peppertree Lane. Burglary. The victim reported that a $500 laptop with its mouse and charger, a Swiss Army knife, silverware and $9 worth of coins from a dresser were taken from his part-time residence while he was staying at his home in Nashville, Tenn. The theft was believed to have occurred between March 23 and April 24. The responding officer did not find any fingerprints.

Snail mail
11:05 a.m. — 2000 block of Siesta Drive. Lost Property. A woman, who in early April left her Pennsylvania driver’s license at a Sarasota tattoo parlor, reported that she has not received it in the mail. An employee who took the woman’s call last month told her that they would send it to her Strasburg, Pa., address.

May 1
Royale theft
9:17 a.m. — 6300 Midnight Pass Road. Petty Theft. A woman went for a walk on the beach and placed several personal items near Siesta Royale before going swimming. Thirty minutes later, she noticed her $250 camera, green sunglasses, black shorts, shirt and her room key were gone. There are no suspects at this time.

Rocky START
1 p.m. — Interstate 75. Property damage. A Siesta Key deputy reported that a rock hit his windshield while he was travelling on Interstate 75. He believes it was thrown from the car in front of him.

APRIL 28
PROOF IS IN THE PAINT
7:42 p.m. — 5200 block of Ocean Boulevard. Hit and run. A man observed another man hit a cement barrier with his car. The driver motioned for the man, who had installed the barrier at his restaurant, to move, then drove away. An officer contacted the driver suspected of striking the structure who said he would “take care of it.” When the officer went to the man’s residence, his car was observed with damage consistent with the complainant’s account.