Cops Corner

Concerned resident reports hand protruding from car trunk

Police were sent to meet with a resident who claimed to see a hand trying to open and close a trunk from the inside. This and other Longboat Key Police reports in this week's Cops Corner.


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Friday, Jan. 12

Another sick raccoon

1:13 p.m., 3200 block of Bayou Road

Animal Problem: A Longboat Key officer was dispatched in reference to an animal problem. The officer spoke with several residents on the scene who said there was a sick raccoon that caused the concern. The raccoon appeared to be injured, and the officer requested animal services to investigate. 


Getting steamy

5:43 p.m., 500 block of Bayport Way

Assist Other Agency: Dispatch sent an officer to assist Longboat Key Fire Rescue for a smoke detector alarm. But before the officer arrived, Fire Rescue personnel determined the call was a false alarm caused by shower steam. 


Saturday, Jan. 13

Problematic partygoers 

11:40 p.m., 500 block of Harbor Cay Drive

Noise Disturbance: A resident called in a complaint about house party noise, and Longboat Key police were sent to investigate. Upon arrival, the responding officer heard loud music coming from the reported address. The officer spoke with the partygoers, and they turned down the music willingly. 


Sunday, Jan. 14

Sunday afternoon handiwork 

12:06 p.m., 800 block of Tarawitt Drive

Officer Public Service: On this afternoon, a concerned resident reported a suspicious man near a house with an extension ladder. At the scene, an officer spoke with the man who was now standing near the ladder. The man said he knew the owner of the house, and was asked to do handyman work around the property. He was able to provide the name and cellphone number of the owner, and showed that he had a spare key. All things considered, he was not in violation of any noise or construction ordinance. 


Monday, Jan. 15

Missing mail 

10:58 a.m., 4300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Suspicious Incident: Dispatch sent police to a report of mail theft. Police spoke with the resident, who said she had forwarded her mail from her home in Minnesota to her home on Longboat Key. When a package arrived, it was damaged, and there was not as much mail as she was anticipating. The responding officer suggested following up with the sender of the package and the post office in Minnesota to determine where the package may have been damaged. 

What’s in the trunk?

1:15 p.m., 300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious Person: A Longboat Key officer was sent to meet with a complainant who explained he observed a vehicle’s trunk opening and closing with a person’s hand inside the vehicle. The officer approached the vehicle and was met by the owner, who said her car was rear-ended about a week ago and now the trunk would not stay closed. She said she had been trying to tie down the trunk from inside through the rear seats, hence the hand poking out from the trunk.


Tuesday, Jan. 16

Staying out of the spotlight 

7:44 p.m., 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive 

Officer Public Service: A restaurant owner called in a disturbance, and an officer was sent to look into the matter. The owner said that for three nights in a row, the house directly across the waterway was shining a bright spotlight into the windows of the restaurant, resulting in complaints from customers. Though the spotlight was off at the time of the officer’s arrival, an officer still went over to the homeowner to talk about the spotlight. 

 

author

Carter Weinhofer

Carter Weinhofer is the Longboat Key news reporter for the Observer. Originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, he moved to St. Petersburg to attend Eckerd College until graduating in 2023. During his entire undergraduate career, he worked at the student newspaper, The Current, holding positions from science reporter to editor-in-chief.

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