- December 13, 2024
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Hit, run, caught
8:52 a.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway
Traffic: Police were alerted though the town’s license-plate recognition system that a vehicle connected with a reported hit and run incident was entering town from the south end. An officer stopped the vehicle, and its driver and passenger confirmed they had backed into another vehicle five days earlier. The officer investigating that incident was notified.
Some kind of mix-up
2:46 p.m., 1900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Traffic: A car improperly registered triggered the town’s license-plate recognition system, prompting an officer to perform a traffic stop. The vehicle’s registration had expired. The driver said the vehicle had been re-registered through an online portal, but it’s possible mistakes had been made in the process. The driver was issued a written warning.
Drip, drip, drip
5:22 p.m., 3500 block of Fair Oaks Lane
Public service: Police looked into a report of a broken water main and discovered small leak. The officer who responded alerted the town’s Public Works Department.
Better safe . . .
2:03 a.m., 500 block of Putter Lane
Alarm: A resident’s carbon monoxide alarm sounded, prompting a middle-of-the-night evacuation of the home. Firefighters checked the interior of the home with instruments that did not register the presence of the deadly gas. The homeowner also said batteries in the alarm were recently replaced.
No excuses
7:44 a.m., 6100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Traffic: A car driving 55 mph in a 45 mph zone was stopped, and a verbal warning issued to the driver. The driver said she was late for work at a nearby resort.
Homeward bound
7:57 a.m., 700 block of Gulf Bay Road
Animal call: Police were called to a neighborhood on a report of a loose dog. When the officer arrived he found the dog had been caught by its owner.
Mr. Fix-it
9:59 a.m., 100 block of North Shore Road
Suspicious circumstance: An officer on patrol near the beach spotted an SUV in the access parking area with a screwdriver jammed into one open window and another door open. The officer found the vehicle’s owner on the beach and learned the tool was an improvised repair to keep a broken window in place and the door had been inadvertently left open. Nothing appeared to be missing from the inside of the vehicle.
Sassy!
10:19 a.m., 500 block of Broadway Street
Traffic: A vehicle heading west was monitored at 31 mph in a 20 mph zone. Upon making a traffic stop, the driver stated: “you guys really have nothing better to do. I wasn’t speeding,’’ according to a police incident report. The driver was issued a written warning.
On the spot fix
12:01 p.m., 5500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Traffic: Police stopped a vehicle with an expired registration, as noted by the town’s license plate recognition system. The owner said he didn’t know the paperwork had expired and, using his smartphone, immediately renewed the registration and paid the fee. The driver was issued a written warning.
Gone now
12:16 p.m., 800 block of Broadway Street
Parking: A caller to police alerted officers to the presence of illegally parked cars on the east end of the street. When an officer arrived a short time later, no cars were seen parked improperly. The officer spoke with a restaurant hostess who said four cars had just left that might have been illegally parked. The caller did not wish to be contacted.
Chillin’
5:08 p.m., 500 block of Sanctuary Drive
Suspicious person: A person sitting by the gate of a private community drew the suspicion of a caller to police. The security guard at the gate said a ride-sharing service car had just picked up the person and left.
Bottles of trouble
5:19 p.m., Greer Island
Beverage violation: While on patrol along the beach of Greer Island, an officer found a woman with a half-full, cold bottle of beer alongside her. The woman refused three times to provide information about her identity and age but did so once placed in wrist restraints. The woman and her accompanying group of three men and two other women were escorted back to the officer’s car where she was issued two notices to appear in court: violation of the town’s open container rules and a state violation for underage possession of alcohol. Three bottles of beer and a bottle of champagne were poured out.
All night wrong
1:04 a.m. 700 block of Russell Street
Parking: A complaint about a vehicle parked beyond allowable hours was called in to police. A parking citation for illegal overnight parking was issued.
Safe and sound
9:19 a.m., 100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Boating incident: An officer was flagged down in Overlook Park regarding a boating incident. A man said he had been fishing from an anchored kayak in New Pass. The anchor became stuck and the swiftly moving tide was forcing the small craft underwater. The man swam to shore for his safety. The police’s marine unit and Sarasota Police’s marine unit helped find the kayak and returned it to the man.
Take the day off
3:08 p.m., 700 block of Penfield Street
Noise: Work underway by a plumbing company on a swimming pool pump system drew the attention of police on a federal holiday. The worker said he was not aware of the town’s regulations against such work noise on federal holidays and wrapped up his work for the day.
Not stolen
4:52 p.m., 7100 block of LaLenaire Drive
Report of theft: A resident of Jewfish Key called police to report a missing personal watercraft from a dock. The resident later learned the craft had drifted from the dock and was lodged in mangroves near her property.
Speeding up
9:11 p.m., 500 block of Broadway Street
Traffic: A police officer watched as a westbound car accelerated to 35 mph. The officer performed a traffic stop and issued a speeding citation. The driver from off the island said she did not know the speed limit was 20 mph.
He’s fine
10:07 a.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway
Rescue: Police were alerted to the possibility of an unconscious person in a car. Once officers arrived, they discovered the person was sleeping.
Just checking
10:58 a..m., Police Headquarters
Public service: A resident wanted local police to know of a suspicious event that took place at his out of state home before heading to Longboat Key for the winter. In trying to find his car in parking lot, a woman assisted him and, a few days later, mail was discovered missing from his mailbox. A Longboat officer told him it would be best to make a report with his local police out of state. The man said he also wanted local police to be aware of the incident.
Mote assist
1:12 p.m., Sister Keys
Animal call: Police were asked by Mote Marine to investigate a report of a dead manatee. An officer on marine patrol found the dead animal and brought it to the area of the Linley Street boat ramp, where a Mote team recovered it.
The (blue) lights of Broadway
6:12 p.m., 500 block of Broadway Street
Traffic: Two drivers were ticketed, one for 30 mph and one for 33 mph, in a 20 mph zone within about 30 minutes. Both were seen and checked by radar.