Longboat Key Cops Corner: No walking back from this one

Aug. 6

A watery ride back

3:23 p.m., Greer Island

Citizen assist: The town’s marine patrol officer assisted the operator of a personal watercraft who reported a breakdown. The officer was flagged down by the rider and provided a ride back to the Coquina Beach boat ramp.

Aug. 7

New deal

7:31 a.m., 800 block of Marbury Lane

Civil dispute: A caller sought police help in ironing out a dispute with a moving company, though the officer reported no criminal wrongdoing. The caller said a different company than the one she had contracted with arrived at her home. The moving company said it had purchased the previous contract and there were now additional charges due. The caller claimed a breach of contract and wanted police report to document the events for future reference. 

Safety first

3:21 p.m., New Pass

Boating: The town’s marine patrol officer stopped and spoke to a trio of paddleboarders. None of them could produce the required safety equipment, such as flotation vests or a sound-producing device. The officer explained the reason for his concern and educated them on the requirements of paddleboarders.

Fix it. Soon.

11:06 p.m., 6200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic warning: A driver was issued a written warning following a traffic stop. The officer stopped the vehicle after noticing one headlight was off. The driver said he was aware of the problem and was advised to have it repaired as soon as possible.

Aug. 8

Found and rescued

10:31 p.m., 1600 block of Ken Thompson Parkway

Assist other agency: A town police officer was asked to participate in a search for a missing boater. According to county dispatchers, the stranded boaters could see the flashing lights of a police vehicle on the New Pass bridge and that the boat was west of that location. The officer drove to the nearest beach on Sands Point Road and could see the boat about 100 yards offshore. A county fire-rescue boat was directed there and rescued two adults and two children. The boat was left for the time being.

Aug. 9

Noise nearby

8:09 a.m., 4600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Noise complaint: An officer was sent to a construction site over a complaint of work beginning earlier than allowed by town code. The construction-site supervisor said he would make sure no work begins in the future earlier than 8 a.m.

Aug. 10

A helping hand

9:34 a.m., 500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Rescue assist: An officer called for fire-rescue after finding a man on the ground. The man said he had fallen and injured his face. Fire-rescue arrived soon after, though the man refused hospital transport. The officer gave the man a ride home.

Moving it

11:48 p.m., 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic hazard: An officer on patrol discovered a large tree limb near the edge of the roadway. He stopped and removed the potential traffic hazard from the lane.

Aug. 11

No news, good news

3:38 p.m., Sarasota Bay

Animal complaint: The town’s marine patrol officer was asked to help Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium follow up on a report of a dead green sea turtle in the bay waters. No dead turtle was found.

Aug. 12

Half and half

11:46 a.m., 3100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: An officer responding to a call about a malfunctioning crosswalk signal discovered that the warning lights on one side of the highway were working but the lights on the other side were not. The officer reported his findings to the town’s Public Works Department.

Checking it out

6:42 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Road

Suspicious vehicle: A bank employee called police to report a vehicle parked in the area for the second time in a week, on this occasion while money was being loaded into an automatic teller machine. The investigating officer reported knowing the vehicle and its owner and that no crime had been committed.

Aug. 13

Oh, deer

1:44 a.m., 100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic warning: The driver of a vehicle with one headlight out was issued a written warning. The driver told the officer he had recently struck a deer with his vehicle and that the damage had not yet been fully repaired. With no criminal wants or warrants connected to the driver or the vehicle, the man was allowed to depart.

Quittin’ time

4:07 p.m., 2400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious person: The sight of two people in raincoats loitering in a parking lot drew the attention of a caller to police, but by the time the officer assigned to the report could arrive, the two were gone. A security officer told police the two were day laborers at a nearby construction site and that the security officer had already explained that to the caller.