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Longboat Key Cops Corner: Lights out!

Police reports from around Longboat Key.


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  • | 12:23 p.m. October 29, 2021
  • Longboat Key
  • Cops Corner
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Friday, Oct. 22

Lights out

11:55 a.m., 7100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: A police officer confirmed a citizen's report that the flashing lights were not working properly at the town’s northernmost crosswalk on Gulf of Mexico Drive. The officer found the northbound lane’s lights did not activate when the button-to-cross was pushed. The officer notified the town’s Public Works Department.

Saturday, Oct. 23

Sorry!

12:08 p.m., 6000 block of Emerald Harbor Drive

Citizen assist: What was initially reported to police as a potential water main break was later confirmed as a backflow valve break on a resident’s property. The homeowner told an officer a family member had accidentally hit the device. Public Works Department staff shut the water off and a plumbing contractor was called to make repairs.

There it goes

5:29 p.m., 1500 block of Harbor Cay Lane

Citizen assist: A resident called police concerned about the interruption of water service at his residence. An officer learned from the resident that water service had been fine all day but ceased to work in the 30 minutes preceding the officer’s arrival. Public Works Department staffers were told of the situation by police. A short time later, the resident called police again to say the water was back on. The officer told the Public Works staff that all was well.

Not reckless while police were there

8:03 p.m., Gulf of Mexico Drive and Longboat Club Drive

Traffic: A driver along Gulf of Mexico Drive called police to report a vehicle being driven recklessly and traveling southbound in the northbound lane. The caller said he was following the vehicle and had his emergency flashers on. A police officer spotted the vehicle from which the caller was relaying information but did not witness anyone driving recklessly. A Sarasota police unit resumed following beyond the New Pass bridge and also reported no out-of-bounds driving.

Sunday, Oct. 24

While you were out . . .

11:44 p.m., 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: While conducting a routine security check of a business, an officer spotted one of the business’ fire-suppression sprinklers malfunctioning and producing a steady stream of water though there was no fire. The officer called for Longboat Key Fire Department, which gained entry into the business and shut off the water. A detailed account of what took place in the form of a telephone message was left with the business owner/manager.

Monday, Oct. 25

RIP, raccoon

4:45 p.m., 7000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal complaint: Police received an anonymous report of an injured animal in the roadway. An officer arrived to find a dead raccoon and removed it to the side of the road.

Tuesday, Oct. 26

What was that?

4:43 a.m., 500 block of Bowsprit Lane

Suspicious incident: A homeowner who heard a strange noise coming from the first floor called police to investigate. Two officers checked the area and found nothing out of the ordinary and no signs of criminal activity.

Where does it belong?

3:56 p.m., 2500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive  

Suspicious vehicle: The manager of a condominium community called police concerned about a car parked in one of the property’s covered areas for about two weeks. The manager told police it was unknown who it belongs to, and the manager was concerned it might have been stolen and left behind by the thieves. Police learned it was not stolen and was registered to an out-of-state company.

A sight to see

8:55 p.m., 3800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: Police were called to the scene of a geyser-like plume of water spraying from what was apparently a broken pipe onto the nearby sidewalk and roadway. The Public Works Department was notified. Personnel said they would come to the scene to better assess the situation.

Wednesday, Oct. 27

Intruder alert!

1:03 p.m., 500 block of Ranger Lane

Suspicious person: A homeowner who spotted via a wireless security-camera system a stranger carrying a bucket in her yard called police to investigate. The officer who arrived found the property secure with no signs of criminal activity but did find a pest-control receipt affixed to the front door, with a date and time that matched the time of the suspicious-person report. A neighbor also flagged down the officer to say they had seen a pest-control technician on the property in the same time frame.  

A story with a real hook

5:29 p.m., 600 block of Longboat Club Road

Animal complaint: Police were notified of a seagull entangled in fishing line with a hook stuck in its beak. As the officer walked to the beach from his vehicle, he was told by the original caller that a passer-by was able to free the bird from the fishing line and remove the hook. The bird then flew away, the caller said.

Thursday, Oct. 28

It all works out

1:15 p.m., 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway

Found property: A police officer went to a retail store on a report of a found wallet. A representative of the store said the wallet had been in the store’s safe for a day or two waiting for someone to claim it, but no one had done so. The officer took possession of the wallet and was able to reach its owner, who was from out of town but was staying locally. The officer brought the wallet to the owner, confirmed his identity, and returned his property to him.

Friday, Oct. 29

Where there’s smoke . . .

1:52 a.m., 200 block of Sands Point Road

Fire: Police and fire-rescue units responded to reports of a fire at a resort. The officer who responded reported seeing smoke from the ground floor of the resort’s parking garage. The fire was restricted to a mulched area outside of the garage near the beach. Fire-rescue personnel extinguished the fire and there was no reported damage. No injuries were reported.

 

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