'Topless' sunbathers get visit from Longboat police

Friday, April 3

Restraining order coming up

11:29 a.m., North Shore Road

Civil disturbance: Police were called to a north-end condo unit to oversee a break-up between a couple that lived together. When police arrived, the officer was informed by the male party that he wanted the officer to stand by while he retrieved his items from the condo. Shortly thereafter, a woman and her daughter showed up and explained that a restraining order had been filed against the man but it had not yet been served. She also told police the man had a pistol at the residence and said he would need to go through the court to retrieve any items. She also said the man had no items at the residence as everything was cleared out after the hurricanes. The officer then returned to speak with the man who disagreed with the latter point, claiming his bicycles were still at the residence. The officer searched for active warrants and judgments and found none, but with the information provided the officer logged the man’s license plate in the town’s license plate reader system as a “hot entry” for 30 days. The man left and the case was closed.

Girls gone wild? Not quite

2:18 p.m., 4400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious incident: Police were called to the beach after a caller reported two women in their 20s that were topless. An officer rushed to the scene and saw two women matching the age description, but noticed “no violations of Florida law or local ordinances.” The officer explained the reason for his visit and asked if the two had been topless earlier. The women both said they had not, but were on their stomachs sunbathing earlier. They hypothesized that they may have been briefly exposed when turning over onto their backs. The officer asked for identification from the women, but they refused to provide it. With no crime witnessed, the officer “did not compel identification” and closed the case.

Sunday, April 5

Not a standard lost bag

2:48 p.m., Sands Point Road

Lost/found property: Security at a country club restaurant called police after finding a bag left behind with suspicious contents, a gun and drugs inside. When police arrived, the officer inspected the bag and found a gun and prescription medication. The owner of the bag arrived shortly after and took custody of the bag from security. Police then closed the case.

A long way from Hialeah

11:01 p.m., Gulf of Mexico Drive and Companion Way

Citizen assist/service call" A man lying down on the grass next to a bus stop prompted a call to police from a concerned passerby. When an officer arrived, they found a man lying on the grass near the former bus stop. The officer approached the man who provided his identification card and said he did not have any medical issues and was only resting. At that time, Fire Rescue arrived and were told their help was not needed by the responding officer. The officer then asked if he needed a ride to Salvation Army, which the man refused. The man said he was instead trying to get to Hialeah, Florida, which is nearly 250 miles from Longboat Key on the east coast. The man said he would like a ride to a 7-Eleven in Bradenton instead. The officer got permission to provide a courtesy ride and transported him to the mainland. The officer then closed the case.