Longboat Key Cops Corner: The ups and downs of a portable sign

July 11

It’s down … no, it’s up again

10:10 a.m., Poinsetta Drive

Suspicious incident: A police sergeant alerted an officer on patrol to a report of possible criminal mischief involving town property. The officer learned from a witness that a vehicle had hit and knocked down a portable 20 mph speed limit sign and drove off. Aside from the color and basic body style, the witness was not able to relay a further description. The officer reported the sign was not damaged and stood it back up again.

It’s not venomous, nor is it a snake

10:21 a.m.

Animal call: Police were called to a home after the resident became worried about the possibility of a venomous snake near a backyard pool. The officer determined the yellow with black ringed item was a yard ornament and not a living thing.

 I’ll take that

12:04 p.m., 4200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Traffic: The town’s license-plate reading system identified a vehicle entering the island from the north connected to a driver with a suspended drivers license. The vehicle was stopped and the driver conceded knowing his license had been suspended in February for failure to pay a traffic fine. The license was confiscated, the driver was issued a ticket and a court date and a passenger with property driving credentials was permitted to take over behind the wheel.

Slow down, huh?

1:30 p.m., near Jewfish Key

Boating: An officer on marine patrol spotted a personal watercraft operating on plane and creating a wake in a slow-speed, no wake zone. The officer delivered a verbal warning to the operator and explained the reason for the stop.

A private matter

2:09 p.m., 300 block of North Shore Road

Information report: While on patrol on Greer Island, an officer was alerted to a call from a resident of a nearby condominium community regarding a vehicle improperly parked on the premises. The officer spoke to the caller, who said the vehicle belonged to neither a resident or a guest. The officer said since the vehicle was parked on private property, there was no possibility of a ticket being issued.

Close call

4:25 p.m., near Jewfish Key

Boating: Town police responded with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office on a report of a teen floating face down in the water on the northwest side of the island. An off-duty police officer was administering life-saving techniques, and the teen was transported to Coquina Beach to be taken to a hospital. Longboat’s marine patrol officer took the teen’s parents to the boat ramp and learned the teen had regained consciousness and was talking to first responders. The parents called the next day to thank all involved in the rescue and to say their son was in stable condition following his incident.

Keeping watch

3:10 p.m., 300 block of Penfield Street

Alarm: Police found a large dog sleeping at the door of a home they had been called to on a report of a burglar alarm. All the doors and windows of the home appeared secure.

Mask on

6:48 p.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Pandemic: Police spoke to a person not wearing a mask following a citizen’s report. The person was unaware of the town’s emergency ordinance and immediately put one on.

Those green cars, right?

7 p.m., 300 block of North Shore Road

Parking: Two vehicles, both green and both carrying out of state license plates, were ticketed for illegal parking within five minutes of each other.

Nothing to see here

10:27 p.m., 4300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: Police were called to the beach regarding a group of people reportedly looking for sea turtles. The group was gone by the time an officer arrived.

July 12

Not hurt

4:56 p.m., Longboat Pass

Rescue: The town’s marine patrol officer and lifeguards from Coquina Beach teamed up to rescue three people who were found in Longboat Pass alongside their overturned personal watercraft. The three, who were all wearing life jackets, were taken to shore by the lifeguards. The overturned craft was brought to the boat ramp by the Longboat officer. The were no injuries.

Properly masked

5:56 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway

Pandemic call: Police received a report of people not wearing masks in a store. Officers who walked through the store reported seeing everyone properly wearing masks.

BRB

8:12 p.m., 2800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: Police were called to the beach on a report of an abandoned tent, possibly detrimental to nesting turtles. Officers arrived and spoke to the tent owner who said it was not abandoned, but rather she had gone inside for a short time.

Make him an offer

8:12 p.m., 2900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious incident: A property owner called police following a remote alert to intruders on his property. The owner said he was not present but was alerted by his security system that showed two people peeking in the front door. Police arrived to find two people who had been given an incorrect address for a property for sale. They apologized. The property owner was contacted and told the results of the police investigation.

Sands of time

9:41 p.m., Greer Island beach

Code violation: A resident called police to report a tent and beach gear left behind on the sand. The police explained that the town’s permitted beach hours run to 11 p.m., but officers would return. Upon their second visit, the gear was tagged as a violation of town codes, and the town’s Code Enforcement officer was alerted.

July 13

That sinking feeling

5:55 p.m., 3100 block of Bayou Sound

Rescue: Fire personnel and police investigated a hole that opened up in the roadway. A work truck’s rear wheel sank into the hole and was pulled out, with minor damage. The town’s Public Works Department was alerted.

Open government

8:30 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Road

Security check: While performing a routine check of a town building, police found an unsecured door, likely left in that state by a cleaning crew that forgot to lock up.

July 14

Inside voices, please

12:30 a.m., 2600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Noise: Police investigated a report of excessive conversation noise coming from a room in a resort. Before contacting the people in the room, an officer stood outside and reported hearing no louder-than-normal sounds. He told the room’s occupants about the call, and while they said they didn’t think they were being loud, they would speak lower.  Following a second call about 30 minutes later, another officer similarly did not detect bothersome noise, this time reported to be coming from a courtyard area.

On the job

10:06 a.m., 5500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious incident: A business owner called police to report a man lurking around the gas meter. The owner said the man then drove off in a white SUV with the words Health Consultants on the side. Police stopped the vehicle and learned the man and his company were bonafide gas meter reading contractors. The business owner was told of police findings.

July 16

Ooops

9:01 p.m., 500 block of Jungle Queen Way

Suspicious incident: Police investigated a report of two empty gun cases on the driveway of a home. When officers arrived, the owner said he had forgotten they were there and brought them inside.

Locked up

9:44 p.m., 500 block of Golf Links Lane

Citizen assist: A renter called police to assist him after he found himself locked out. An officer was able to find an unsecured door in the rear to let the tenant in.