Longboat Key hitchhiker gets visit from police

Saturday, Feb. 14

Adjoining room not included

11:24 a.m., 4700 block Gulf of Mexico Drive

Civil disturbance: Police were called to a resort to help settle a billing dispute after a guest checked out. According to management, a man checked into the hotel for one room but invited a friend over who used an adjoining room. Upon checkout, the guest refused to pay for the adjoining room. When he left, hotel staff called the police. When an officer arrived at the hotel, the guest had returned. The man told police his friend had thought the adjoining room was included in the rental and that it was merely a confusion of the room layout. The man paid the remaining balance and police closed the case.

Sunday, Feb. 15

No dogs on the beach, unless…

11:10 a.m., 1135 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal problem: Police were called on a woman walking a small, black and white dog on the beach, something notoriously not allowed on Longboat Key beaches. When police arrived, they made contact with the dogwalker who introduced the officer to the pup who was wearing a service dog vest. The dogwalker showed the officer the proper documentation, the officer was satisfied and closed the case.

Monday, Feb. 16

Hitchhiking on Longboat

10:55 a.m., 400 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen Assist: A man hitchhiking on Gulf of Mexico Drive prompted a call to police by a concerned bystander on a recent Monday morning. When police arrived to the scene, the approached a man walking south in the bike lane. The man told police he owned a condo nearby but did not have a vehicle and had left his phone at a deli in downtown Sarasota, which was where he was walking. He told police he was hoping the trolley would come by or that someone would pick him up to drive the six miles. That someone turned out to be the responding officer, who gave the man a courtesy ride and closed the case.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Favor, not theft

4:02 p.m., North Shore Road

Citizen assist: Police were called by a man who believed his trash bins had been stolen. When police arrived, the homeowner informed the officer that he just returned home and the county-issued bins were not where he left them. Police performed a canvass of the area, finding the bins in the back of the residence. The man said he did have friends staying at the residence and that they could have placed them there instead of their usual location. Police closed the case.