Restaurant, intersection vandalized on north end of Siesta

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is investigating vandalism late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning on the north end of Siesta Key.

Sgt. Scott Osborne and Siesta Key Association President Catherine Luckner said that two dumpsters had been flipped over at the Old Salty Dog Restaurant. Flower boxes outside the well-known dining establishment also were broken in this latest incident, and trash cans “were thrown about.”

Osborne added that the area near the intersection of Treasure Boat Way and Ocean Boulevard, just down the street from the restaurant, has experienced several incidents in the past three weeks. Numerous boards have been kicked out of the wooden fence along Ocean Boulevard at the Treasure Boat intersection, he said, and the stop sign was ripped out about two weeks ago.

The recent vandalism is “always is in the same area,” Osborne said. “We’ve got a special patrol (there),” working to catch the perpetrators. Osborne said he is inclined to believe the culprits live in that neighborhood.

The perpetrators “seem to make that turn down Treasure Boat Way,” Luckner said.

The county should replace the wooden fence, Osborne said, because it has suffered significant damage since it was erected as part of the Siesta Village beautification project.

“People walking out of the Village drunk … of course they’re going to kick it,” he said.

“Maybe if (the drunk people) just fell in the drainage ditch once or twice,” Luckner said, “the fence would be their friend” instead of a target for damage.

Luckner said the vandalism will be one topic of discussion when the SKA holds its next regular meeting at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 4, at St. Boniface Episcopal Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Road.

Contact Rachel Brown Hackney at [email protected].