Property owner accuses contractor of stealing equipment

Friday, Jan. 16

Airing of grievances

10:28 a.m., 100 block of North Links Avenue

Theft: It was reported that three males who work for a heating and air conditioning contractor made off with three HVAC units along with some piping materials and copper pipes. The complainant estimated the purloined climate-control items at a value of $11,000.

The men were driving a white box truck, and the complainant was able to provide a description of the vehicle as well as the the license plate number, and that it was last seen heading east on Fruitville Road. The vehicle was spotted and stopped near Honore Avenue and Fruitville Road.

The complainant said he had a contract with the company but it had failed to meet stipulations and, as a result, he terminated the work. He had paid a deposit and therefore he believed the equipment on site belonged to his commercial enterprise. 

An officer spoke with a representative of the HVAC contractor who advised the customer owes the company $70,000. Both parties were advised the officer was uncertain regarding the ownership of the equipment and that the matter appeared civil in nature.

Celebratory face-grabbing

4:52 p.m., Bee Ridge Road at South Tamiami Trail

Suspicious incident: Officers responded to a call that originated at the above location of a possibly battery occurring in a passing vehicle. The complainant advised he first heard a woman scream and looked over to see the passenger in the vehicle holding her face.

The witness provided the license plate number and an officer located the vehicle thanks to continuous updates by the witness until observing the vehicle turning onto Mound Street from South Tamiami Trail.

The driver of the vehicle and the passenger both advised there had been no physical assault and that the scream was in celebration of the pair making an offer on a new house. Details about the purpose of the reported face holding was not included in the incident report.

Tuesday, Jan. 20

Skeptical of abuse claim

12:44 a.m., 1200 block of 34th Street

Suspicious incident: Having left a reported abusive relationship in Jacksonville and moving to Sarasota, a woman told an officer she believed her ex-fiancé was going to kill her, her children and her grandchildren. As the officer asked questions regarding the nature of her fears, the woman frequently stopped saying the interview was “too much for her,” according to the incident report. 

She was reported to be easily irritated by the questioning and was angered that the authorities in Jacksonville were not working on her case in a satisfactory manner. At one point during the interview, the woman made eye contact with another officer and stated that she did not like him, but did not give a reason why. In order to not be a distraction, that officer left the scene.

Officers spoke with the woman’s relatives who were also in the home. They said she had arrived in December, but were skeptical regarding the veracity of her claims of abuse and fears of violence. 

The woman was provided with a link to which she could send any text messages, emails or other communications with her would-be assailant that would provide evidence of her claims.