Cops Corner

June 30

SUSPECT HAD GREEN THUMB

Panther Ridge Trail and State Road 70 E., Bradenton

Petit theft: The Sheriff's Office was contacted because several azalea plants were stolen from the listed location. The plants were valued at approximately $100.

July 8 

SIGH OF THE TIMES

8100 block of Natures Way, Lakewood Ranch

Petit theft: A woman called the Sheriff's Office to report she had dropped her cell phone, which she believes was recovered by an unknown person. That person has been sending text messages to her friends, pretending to be the victim. The suspect also has called the victim's family, but would only sigh loudly when they answered the phone.

July 9

PARKING PLACE PUGILISTS

2800 block of University Parkway, Sarasota.

Simple Battery: Two adult women got into a verbal argument outside a grocery story about whether one of them could park iin the "Expectant Mother" parking spot. Eventually, the two women started to shove each other. A witness was no willing to provide a statement but video footage was taken by the store. When the women finally walked away from each other, one of the women grabbed the other women's purse and threw it at her. Both women signed waivers of prosecution.

July 11

THIRSTY, AND CHEAP

6300 block of State Road 64 East, Bradenton

Trespass warning: The Sheriff's Office was asked to respond to a convenience store after a man walked inside, poured himself a fountain drink and left without paying for it. The store employee followed the man into the parking lot and asked him to pay for it, but he only mocked her. When deputies arrived, the man said he thought he had paid for the drink and then gave the employee the money. The man was then trespassed from the site.

July 13

VIOLATION WAS NO JOKE

4500 block of 51st Street East, Bradenton

Driving with suspended license: During a patrol, a Sheriff's Office deputy noticed a very slow moving vehicle further ahead. The deputy observed the vehicle turn around with its high beams blinding him. The vehicle then veered to the right side of the road with its passenger side tires going off the road on the grass. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and smelled the strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the car. The driver said he had no identification and said he never had an ID. The driver appeared to be extremely high and kept giggling and laughing during the traffic stop and did not seem to care he wasn't supposed to be operating a vehicle. He was issued a citation for driving without a license. The registered owner of the vehicle responded to get the vehicle.