Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Aug. 10
FAREWELL FRAUDSTERS
8:43 p.m. — 100 block of Avenida Messina. Suspicious Incident. The proprietor of a restaurant reported two suspicious credit-card transactions at his establishment that had been disputed by the credit-card company. He did not have surveillance of the tapes of the incidents, but police suspect they could be linked to recent arrest for credit-card fraud.

Aug. 11
LITTLE RED ROBBING HOOD
2:37 p.m. — 4800 block of Higel Avenue. Found Property. A man discovered a torn, red shirt in his yard that was possibly related to a suspicious incident he reported to deputies earlier. Officers claimed the shirt and entered it into evidence.

TOTE TAKEN
9:25 p.m. — 900 block of Beach Road. Petit Theft. A couple told police that someone had taken a tote bag containing a multicolored towel and an iPhone while they left it momentarily unattended at Siesta Key beach. They reported the incident after eating dinner.

Aug. 12
CLOTHES CASE
2:45 a.m. — 6400 block of Midnight Pass Road. Theft. A woman called police to report that while she was swimming with her husband and some friends off Siesta Key Beach, someone stole her husband’s shorts and wallet from a blanket on the beach. The unknown suspect also took a pair of jeans, a cell phone and another pair of shorts.

CHINESE FIRE DRILL
3:10 a.m. — 6400 block of Midnight Pass Road. Making False Report to Law Enforcement. A woman called police to report her boyfriend crashed her car, and when she exited the vehicle to check the damage, he drove away. Police located the vehicle 40 feet from where the woman said the accident occurred and found a man in the passenger seat. He told deputies the couple got into an argument after the crash, and that his girlfriend had been driving the vehicle and fled on foot after the incident. Officers are still investigating the circumstances, but noted the woman seemed severely intoxicated.

Aug. 13
THE LEASH YOU CAN DO
5:40 p.m. — intersection of Midnight Pass Road and Higel Avenue. Suspicious Incident. Police spotted a woman, who matched the description in a report of a disturbance, walking a dog without a leash and attempted to make contact. She told the deputy she “hates cops” and “a cop shot” her and refused to comply. When police notified the woman, who was carrying a bottle of wine, that she was violating a county ordinance by not using a leash, she kept repeating that she hates cops and for officers to “just take the dog.” The deputy made contact with the property owner, who didn’t have an updated tenant roster, and could not get information on the dog, Lady, from Animal Services. The woman — and dog — were released.

Aug. 14
PAIN IN THE REAR
8:50 p.m. — intersection of Midnight Pass Road and Stickney Point Road. Vehicle Crash. A woman driving a rental car slowed to make a U-turn, and another vehicle following closely behind struck the rear of her Dodge, causing $500 in damage. Police cited the driver of other vehicle for careless driving, and both parties declined emergency services, despite the woman whose car was struck who complained of neck pain.

WATCHFUL EYE
12:28 p.m. — 6300 block of Midnight Pass Road. Residential Burglary. A man reported that a television and cable-converter box were missing from his rental unit. He told deputies a cleaning crew said both items were present the previous day. There was no sign of forced entry.