Intoxicated man wanting to drive causes dispute with responsible bystander

Friday, Sept. 29

Drunk and disorderly  

11:14 p.m., 7100 block of Joy Street 

Citizen Dispute: A report of a citizen dispute prompted Longboat Key police to respond. On the scene, an officer found two men in the driveway of a residence. One of the men was said to be intoxicated and sitting in his vehicle, while the other was urging him not to drive. Eventually, the keys were handed over, and both men parted ways. 

Saturday, Sept. 30

Unable to retrieve 

10:06 a.m., 600 block of Longview Drive 

Citizen Assist: An officer responded to a resident’s complaint that there was a box floating in the canal near her home. When police arrived, they were able to locate the black box but couldn’t get it out of the water. No marine patrol unit was available, but one of the marine patrol officers was notified of the complaint. 

Wrong department 

9:06 p.m., 4400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen Assist: Longboat Key Police Department was dispatched to respond to a residential lockout. The responding officer tried to contact the caller to let the caller know that law enforcement does not respond to lockouts. But the phone number provided was for store on Bay Isles Parkway. When the officer arrived at the residence, the owner provided a driver’s license that matched the address. He explained that he had stepped out of the building for a moment, and when he tried to get back in he realized he did not have his key fob, nor a cellphone to contact anyone. The officer helped him contact a homeowners association representative. 

Sunday, Oct. 1

Call canceled

4:05 p.m., 200 block of Sands Point Road 

Citizen Assist: An officer responded to a call about a possible theft. The caller said she had left her phone in the lobby and when she returned, it was gone. But right before the officer arrived, dispatch notified that the caller had found her phone. 

Tuesday, Oct. 3

A few minutes short

7:55 a.m., 7000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Noise Complaints: While on patrol, an officer noticed loud construction that was going on just shy of 8 a.m. The worker was hammering and throwing items in a dumpster from the second story, which caused the noise, according to the police report. The officer approached the worker, who said he was unaware of the ordinance and had not been warned prior. All checked out when the officer verified the worker had not been given a prior warning, so this encounter ended in a verbal warning.

Permission granted

4:42 p.m., 600 block of Putter Lane 

Suspicious Person: A man walking around taking pictures was reported as a suspicious person, prompting Longboat Key police to respond. The responding officer made contact with the man, who claimed to be hired for landscaping. No warrants were found on the photographer, and the complainant was notified that the photographer had permission. 

Wednesday, Oct. 4

Late-night lifting 

11:54 p.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Suspicious Person: On patrol, an officer noticed a man sitting on a bench outside of a business. The officer approached the man, who said he was on vacation and walked to the local gym. But gym access didn’t start until midnight, and he couldn’t yet get in. He was just sitting on the bench waiting to get in. 

Thursday, Oct. 5

Box finally retrieved 

4 p.m., Buttonwood Harbor

Citizen Assist: While on marine patrol, officers were able to locate the black box from a week prior, stuck in the mangroves. The officers were able to remove the box and left it on a nearby dock for Public Works to pick up.