Cops Corner: Longboat Key

Feb. 10
Rumor patrol
1:52 p.m. — Off the Key. 

Suspicious Circumstance: A woman and her husband told a man, who was taking photos of their boat and appeared to almost board it, that he was making them feel uncomfortable. The couple’s friends warned them to stay away from the man. After meeting with police, they received an email from the man titled “Rumors, lies and non-factual based slander your boyfriend/husband whatever your relationship is with (husband’s name) seems to be enjoying spreading.” Police told the couple to stay away from the man and report any future contact.

Feb. 13
Name game
1:06 a.m. — 400 block of GMD. 

Suspicious Circumstance: A man appeared to be sleeping in his car that was parked at a restaurant. The man, who did not have a driver’s license and was identified by a Mexican ID and passport, said he had given a ride to his friend to a nearby home and was waiting for her to return. When police told him to get a licensed driver to move the car, he said his friend probably had a license. His friend returned and said she had a valid license. She didn’t. When police asked her whom she was visiting, she said “Sarah.” When the officer told her he knew the home’s owner, she said she was seeing “Brad.” Police warned the man and woman about state statutes for loitering and prowling. They left the area on foot and said they would have a licensed driver return to pick up the car.

Suspicious stepson 
3:38 p.m. — 1200 block of GMD. 

Suspicious Circumstance: A woman closed her cable account and discovered her stepson was still listed on the account, even though he was not authorized to be. She worries that he has found ways to access her phone and email accounts and wanted to file a report in case he accesses them.

Feb. 15

Lock up
12:10 a.m. — 4000 block of GMD.

Security Check: Police discovered the door at a town facility was unlocked and secured the door by locking it from the inside.

Open-door policy
1:26 a.m. — 3300 block of GMD.

Security Check: Police checked on a home that had all of its garage doors open and rang the doorbell to notify the residents about the open doors.

Restroom rampage
9:55 a.m. — 4000 block of GMD.

Vandalism: Police noticed that the toilet in a town facility that was left unlocked the night before had been broken, and toilet paper had been wet and thrown at the wall. Police notified Public Works.

Dog fight
12:05 p.m. — 3400 block of Winding Oaks Drive. 

Animal:  A woman was walking her small dog when a man with two large dogs approached her and said his dogs were friendly. His dogs then attacked her dog as she passed by. The woman was able to pull her dog away from the attack. The woman took her dog to an emergency veterinarian, who said the dog suffered puncture wounds close to its stomach and received several stitches and drains for the injury.

Feb. 16
Helping hand
12:23 p.m. — 400 block of GMD.

Rescue: Police arrived before firefighter/paramedics to help a man who had fallen. The man was feeling light-headed but provided his information to police before firefighter/paramedics arrived. They transported him to a Sarasota hospital for examination.

Smoking pot
4:36 p.m. — 2700 block of GMD.

Fire Alarm: A pot that was left on a stove caused the fire alarm to go off. There was no damage to the property. The building manager said that the man who is renting the unit was not on the property.