Longboat Key Cops Corner: It's a gusher!

Jan. 4

Rude awakening

3:52 a.m., 4400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Public service: Police and fire-rescue personnel were called to a condominium on a report of a flooded first-floor unit. No one was injured. Firefighters found the source of the water in a bedroom closet and closed off the main valve. A maintenance supervisor for the community was called and responded.

A-hunting we will go

7:23 a.m., 3000 block of Grand Bay Boulevard

Suspicious circumstance: Police were alerted to the sound of about 15 gunshots. An officer who responded reported hearing similar sounds, which he attributed to distant (and legal) duck hunting. Several residents in the area were told duck season is open in Florida until Jan. 26, and distant gunshot sounds could be expected.

Proof!

9:49 a.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic: A vehicle was stopped following an officer alert to a vehicle registration that expired on Sept. 30. The driver of the vehicle produced a printed receipt for a recent online registration renewal and the traffic stop was terminated.

Long-distance concern

10:24 a.m., 2800 block of Harbourside Drive

Welfare check: A physical therapist called to check on the welfare of a client aboard a boat docked in town. The professional had been worried about the client's welfare. An officer spoke to the man aboard the boat, who said he had fallen about a month ago but was fine now. The officer relayed the information.

Who is that guy?

5:30 p.m., 600 block of Gulf Bay Road

Suspicious person: A solicitor in the neighborhood was gone, likely picked up by a vehicle, before police could arrive in response to a call about a suspicious man.

Driving while discussing

10:30 p.m., 2500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic: Shortly after receiving a call about a car driving 17 mph below the speed limit while weaving within its own lane, an officer spotted the vehicle driving south. Once stopped, the driver did not appear impaired and denied drinking or using drugs, instead attributing the unusual driving to a heated discussion with a spouse on the phone. With no wants or warrants, the driver was released with an admonition to not drive while arguing.

Jan. 5

Early start

10:13 a.m., 500 block of Buttonwood Drive

Noise: A landscaper told a police officer he was trying to get a jump on a job set to start on Monday when someone made a noise complaint. The landscaper said he was not aware of a town ordinance about work noise on Sundays. He was issued a verbal warning and allowed to clean up before leaving.

I’ll be back

11:22 p.m., 900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Disabled vehicle: Police responded to a report of a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. An officer learned from the driver that a tire blowout had taken place, but the car had no jack. A friend of the driver was on the way  and the driver said he would return in the morning to fix the tire. The car was left overnight off the pavement.

Here for the boat

11:52 p.m., 6000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious person: A man driving a truck with a boat trailer told an officer he had arrived from Miami to pick up a 30-foot boat from a business. A voicemail was left with the business owner to explain the situation, and criminal checks were made on the man’s identity the results of which were passed along to the department’s detective.

Jan. 6

Hello? Hello?

11:46 a.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Found property: A resident turned in a Samsung cell phone found on the beach. The power was on, but the screen was locked. It was placed into police custody for safe keeping.

Please move them

12:22 p.m., 3300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Parking: A police officer requested the owners of several vehicles parked on the east side of the road, across from a construction site, to move them to a safer location. They were moved while the officer watched.

Plan B

1:32 p.m., 100 block of North Shore Road

Lost property: A beachgoer called police for help after losing her vehicle’s key fob. A search of the beach turned up nothing. A towing service was called to bring the beachgoer and the vehicle home.

Done driving

4:47 p.m., 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic: The island’s license-plate monitoring system alerted police to a vehicle owned by a driver with a suspended license. After a traffic stop, the driver acknowledged the source of the suspension was likely overdue child-support payments. The license was seized and a properly licensed driver in the vehicle took over driving duties.

Move it elsewhere

6:39 p.m., 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic: The driver of a car-hauling truck, parked in the center lane, was told he was in violation of the law and advised of more suitable locations to unload vehicles. The officer remained on the scene until the driver moved the truck.

Jan. 7

Clean explanation

9:30 a.m., 3300 block of Sabal Cove Drive

Alarm: Upon arrival at a home with an activated intruder alarm, an officer reported seeing a blue sedan in the driveway with the logo of a cleaning service on the side. Doors and windows of the home were checked and secure. Cleaners inside the home said the owner mistakenly set the alarm. A check with the cleaning service’s owner confirmed the appointment to work at the home.

Hooded and heading home

6:09 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Road

Suspicious person: Shortly after receiving a report of a suspicious man in jeans and a blue hooded shirt, an officer found a man answering the description at a nearby bus stop. The man told the officer he must have made someone nervous, left the area and requested a ride home elsewhere on the island. The officer provided a ride.

Buoy, that happens a lot

8:08 p.m., 7200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Rescue: Police and fire-rescue responded to a rescue call at the Longboat Pass bridge, ultimately judged to be unfounded. Fishermen on the bridge reported a flashing light as if a boat were signaling distress. A navigational buoy equipped with a flashing light has been similarly misidentified in the past, the officer reported.

Jan. 8

Out on a limb

12:12 p.m., 6900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Parking: A tree-service vehicle was spotted parked in the bike lane, with tree limbs extending into the bike lane as well. The officer, who made the discovery while on patrol, asked the service's supervisor to move the truck and the limbs, which was immediately done.