Briefs 08.12.10

+ Bayflite responds to two Key accidents
Bayflite helicopters responded to two separate accidents that left two men injured Saturday on Longboat Key.

The first accident occurred at 11:12 a.m., when Steven Paley, 48, of Sarasota, was riding his bicycle in the southbound bicycle lane on Gulf of Mexico Drive at the intersection of Bay Isles Parkway. According to a police report, Paley abruptly stopped his bicycle, causing it to flip. Paley struck his face on the pavement and was initially unconscious when Longboat Key firefighter/paramedics treated him at the scene, although he regained consciousness by the time the helicopter arrived. According to the police report, Paley told his wife the next day that he could not remember the accident.

According to another police report, the second incident occurred when Christopher Moorin, 29, of Bradenton fell more than 22 feet from the roof of Inn on the Beach. Moorin, who works for Progressive Painting, was painting the hotel’s roof. His coworker told police that he fell while standing on a block wall over the loading dock entrance. The report states that Moorin “sustained serious life-threatening injuries.”

A hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday that both men remain hospitalized and are listed in fair condition.
Longboat Key Fire Rescue Interim Chief Paul Dezzi said that the helicopters were called because the accidents involved head injuries.

+ Longboat police catch burglar
Longboat Key Police Chief Al Hogle sent an e-mail to Town Manager Bruce St. Denis Tuesday, Aug. 10, noting that Officers Doug Coffman and Jeff Morningstar are responsible for locating a suspect in a black Dodge pickup truck who had been wanted for breaking into dozens of homes during the day from Venice to Bradenton.

After discovering a home had been forcibly entered June 25, Morningstar observed the truck, pulled it over and recovered evidence linking Timothy Gene Smith, of Bradenton, to a crime scene at 6801 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

The suspect was soon linked to dozens of cases in Southwest Florida, resulting in multiple cases of burglary.

“We were very happy to be the agency that was able to identify the suspect,” Hogle said.