Longboat Key Cops Corner: Science!

Friday, Oct. 29.

Helping out with science

12:31 p.m., 5700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: Officers were called to the beach by a scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium to aid in the removal of a dead dolphin. An officer assisted Mote workers in carrying the dolphin to a work truck to bring it back to Mote for scientific examination.

Outta here

5:55 p.m., 700 block of Binnacle Point Road

Animal call: A caller who did not wish to meet with an officer alerted the town’s police force to a pelican with one leg. The assigned officer arrived to see a pelican with one foot. The officer attempted to move closer to the bird, but it flew away.

Saturday, Oct. 30

On the way to help

12:02 p.m., Sarasota Bay near Selby Gardens

Boating call: The town’s marine patrol officer was summoned to assist Sarasota Police Department respond to a report of a sinking boat with a party yelling for help. Upon the Longboat officer’s arrival on the scene, the officer learned the party had been able to swim to a nearby sailboat and was in no need of further assistance.

It’s the weekend, guys

7:35 p.m., 500 block of Jungle Queen Way

Noise: Police were called to investigate a report of work noise outside of the town’s allowable hours. An officer was able to find the parties responsible for the noise and apprised them of the regulations. The workers stopped and complied with the officers’ request.

Sunday, Oct. 31

A tail of sandy paws

3:16 p.m., 4500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Dog on the beach: In arriving at the beach to investigate a report of a dog on the sand, an officer learned the canine was a service dog, which town regulations permit. But, the officer issued the dog’s handler with a verbal warning to keep the animal leashed. The handler was seen by the officer connecting the leash to the dog’s collar as the officer approached.

Monday, Nov. 1

Bubble trouble

2:10 p.m., 3500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: A pedestrian walking south along the island’s main road alerted police to water bubbling up from the ground along the sidewalk. The officer, who had been flagged down by the pedestrian, reported puddles forming on the pavement and called the town’s Public Works Department. A crew soon arrived to investigate the cause.

Tuesday, Nov. 2

Quiet time

12:27 p.m., 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Welfare check: Police were asked to check on the welfare of an 86-year-old resident. An officer who responded found the resident unharmed. The resident had turned off their telephone while attending a church service. The resident was asked to call the person who sought the welfare check as soon as convenient. The officer also relayed his findings to the caller.

Not welcome

8:12 p.m., 500 block of Cedar Street

Citizen dispute: Police intervened in a dispute between neighbors over a surveyors stake that resulted in each neighbor requesting the other be issued trespassing warnings. A third party called police to report the dispute. An officer learned from one neighbor that the other had removed a surveyor’s stake marking property boundaries. The accused neighbor denied pulling out the stake. Both neighbors conceded having previous disagreements over the property line. With signed trespassing warning forms completed, the officer suggested the two consult with the town’s Planning, Zoning and Building Department for information the property-line dispute.

It’s a lock . . . now

11:41 p.m., 300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: Police were called to help with the locking of a lockbox outside a residential community’s guard house. An officer was able to provide the assistance required to do the job.

Wednesday Nov. 3

Great balls of fire!

5:19 a.m., 5000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Fire assist: Fire crews and police responded to a report of electrical arcing but determined the issue was actually one involving a malfunctioning gas pool heater that was producing fireballs by igniting the gas suppling it. The fire-rescue team was able to shut off the gas to the heater.

Helping out

4:09 p.m., near New Pass

Agency assistance: A town police officer helped out the Sarasota Police’s marine patrol unit in transporting the operator of an overturned personal watercraft back to the Coquina Beach boat ramp to retrieve his truck and trailer. The Sarasota marine patrol had rescued the man and his dog from the water earlier.

Friday, Nov. 5

Waiting

7:43 a.m., 3500 block of Bayou Circle

Suspicious vehicle: Police were called to investigate a vehicle parked in a home’s driveway. The caller to police was unsure if the vehicle was occupied. An officer illuminated the vehicle with his spotlight saw it was occupied with four people. Two of the occupants stepped out to say they were roofers who were preparing for work and waiting for the remainder of their crew. The vehicle was checked through a national database and found to be free of wants or warrants. The roofers said they were in the car to avoid the morning rain.

On the job

11:09 a.m., 700 block of Broadway Street

Citizen assist: A caller reported two vehicles parked in a resident-only zone without the proper permit. The officer sent to investigate soon learned from a real estate agent that the two vehicles belonged to a home-inspection team, which is permitted for a short period of time. No citation or warnings were issued.