Cops Corner: Pelican Press

April 7
Tailgate trouble
9:21 p.m. — 5700 block of Midnight Pass Road. Grand Theft. A man flagged down a police officer and reported that someone stole the tailgate to his pickup. While he was riding his bicycle, he noticed the suspect was in the back of his truck trying to break into his toolbox. When he yelled at the suspect to stop, the suspect sped away in his own truck. The man tried to chase after the suspect in his truck, but he lost sight of the suspect and then noticed his tailgate was missing. His pickup’s passenger door also had pry marks from an unsuccessful attempt by the suspect to break into the truck’s interior.

Expiration date
10:22 p.m. — Intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Avenida Madera. Driving Under the Influence. Police spotted a man driving a car with an expired tag and discovered the driver’s eyes were bloodshot; when he was pulled over police noticed he had slurred speech. The man admitted to visiting several bars on the beach earlier that day. He was arrested for driving under the influence after he failed his field sobriety tests. He also received citations for an expired tag and no proof of insurance.

April 8
Breathalyzer backlash
1:12 a.m. — Ocean Boulevard at Pass Key. Driving Under the Influence. A police officer conducting a radar speed test caught a woman driving 33 mph in a 20 mph zone. Police observed a noticeable odor of alcohol coming from the woman’s breath when she was pulled over. She denied having anything to drink but soon admitted she had had three alcoholic drinks. The woman swayed while performing her field sobriety tests and couldn’t perform certain tasks, which led to her arrest for driving under the influence. While performing a breathalyzer test, she told the police officer she hated him.

One-of-a-kind steal
12:50 p.m. — 6100 block of Midnight Pass Road. Grand Theft. The owner of a bicycle rental company reported that her red four-wheeled bicycle with a white-striped canopy on top, valued at $1,500, was stolen, even though a cable lock was secured through its wheels. The bike, called a Surrey, is the only bicycle of its kind on Siesta Key, she said.

Minor fight
11:15 p.m. — 6300 block of Midnight Pass Road. Battery. Police saw two men fighting on the beach and broke up the fight. One of the men was a minor; his mother was called to come pick him up. Neither party wanted to press charges against the other.

April 9
Vehicle break-in
9:26 p.m. — 900 block of Beach Road. Vehicle Burglary. A man reported that someone broke into his rental van while he was on the beach and stole three credit cards and $80 in cash from his wallet.

April 10
Double take
12:20 a.m. — 6600 block of Midnight Pass Road. Robbery. A man told police that he was walking with a friend down the beach when a group of men approached them and asked them if they were “disrespecting them.” The two men tried to walk away, but the drunken group kept following them and then stole the first man’s $200 iPod speakers. The first man spotted the man who stole his speakers walking the beach later and called police, who located the suspect and arrested him.

Drugs found in backpack
4:22 p.m. — 6200 block of Midnight Pass Road. Possession of Illegal Drugs. Police found a black backpack with 3.1 grams of marijuana inside of it and confiscated the belongings.

Sobering words
11:59 p.m. — 5100 block of Ocean Boulevard. Driving Under the Influence. Police pulled a man over who was speeding through Siesta Village at 50 mph and found there was an open bottle of beer and a red plastic cup in the center console. The driver failed the field sobriety tests and said “this probably wouldn’t be so hard if you’re sober.” He was arrested for speeding and driving while intoxicated.

April 12
Gun secured
2:30 a.m. — 4600 block of Ocean Boulevard. Possession of Concealed Firearm. Police observed a man driving a white pickup truck jump the curb, squeal its tires and speed off while driving 45 mph in a 20 mph zone. Police pulled the man over and saw a gun wedged in between the driver and the seat. Police reached inside, secured the loaded gun and arrested the man for concealing his gun during a routine stop.

APRIL 8: JEWEL THIEF
1:22 p.m. — 6400 block of Midnight Pass Road. Burglary. A woman reported that someone broke into her home by damaging the doorframe and stole $132,810 worth of jewelry.