Sarasota Cops Corner: 'What are you looking at?'

Saturday, Oct. 22

Non-smoking driveway

10:49 p.m., 3300 block of Ramblewood Place

Civil Dispute: A neighbor described as “creepy”   may have only been a considerate smoker. A woman called police claiming her neighbor was standing at the end of her driveway and staring at her, making her feel uncomfortable when walking her dog. When the officer spoke with the man, he advised that he stood where he did to smoke a cigarette so the smoke would not enter either home. He further stated when the complainant stepped outside, she began yelling at him, including “What the (bleep) are you staring at?” The officer recommended the man smoke on the opposite side of the house to avoid further confrontation. 

Sunday, Oct. 23

Over the roadway into the woods

2:51 a.m., 2000 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Dispute: An officer arrived on scene to find a crowd of eight or nine people in the parking lot of a business. The officer also observed a woman run east across North Washington Boulevard toward the business. The crowd reported they did not call for nor need law enforcement assistance.

When leaving the area, the officer found the woman lying in the roadway, causing vehicles to swerve to avoid her. She then got up and ran into nearby woods. Once assisted out of the woods, she was unable to stand or walk. She said she had "consumed a lot of alcohol.”

She was taken by ambulance to a hospital under involuntary admission provisions of Florida's Marchman Act.

Sunday, Oct. 23

Statutory vandalism

1:49 a.m., 500 block of South Orange Avenue

Criminal mischief: A woman awakened by noises from outside his home found many of her lawn statues and planters out of place. Among the items, one planter valued at $150 and a statue at $400 were damaged. No suspects were seen.

The victim advised she has no external cameras on the premises. A canvass of the area turned up no other cameras that may have captured the incident. The complainant said she does wish to pursue charges against the suspect or suspects if new information results in any arrests. The officer reported the suspect(s) appeared to have willfully and maliciously damaged personal property.