Lovers' road rage quarrel results in DUI arrest

Saturday, July 18

Foam, steam and water spill from ground

4:00 p.m., Palm Drive and Cedar Street

Citizen assist: Longboat police stumbled upon what sounds like the beginning of a sci-fi movie Saturday afternoon. A citizen approached an officer on patrol and told him about a possible electrical issue nearby. When the officer arrived on scene, he saw “water pouring from the ground” accompanied by either steam or smoke and a foamy substance. Upon further investigation, the officer noticed the water, steam and foam was emanating from an area next to an electrical box. The officer called the electric company, determined the incident was not causing alarm or possible harm among the residents, and closed the case.

Sunday, July 19

Lovers’ road rage quarrel results in DUI arrest

5:35 a.m., 5300 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Impaired driver: A driver who was being closely followed called police to report a suspected road rage incident. The police officer who was dispatched to the call then positioned his car just northbound of the two vehicles and initiated a traffic stop when they passed. Both vehicles pulled over, and the officer first spoke to the driver of the vehicle in the rear. He said the female passenger of the lead vehicle was his girlfriend, and that he wanted the girl to leave with him instead. The officer then spoke with the driver of the vehicle in the lead, who said the driver behind him was the ex-boyfriend of the girl in the passenger seat, and he almost drove him off the road. The officer wrote in his report the driver of the following vehicle smelled of alcohol. When asked whether he had been drinking, he told the officer he consumed one or two vodka cocktails at a nearby bar with friends. The 18-year-old then agreed to field sobriety tests, and, based on the tests, his admission, and other factors, the officer placed him under arrest. The case was closed.

Tuesday, July 21

A failed switcharoo

7:28 p.m., 7000 block Gulf of Mexico Drive

Vehicle stop: A Flock camera alert notified a police officer the registered owner of a passing vehicle had an expired license, which a search in police databases confirmed. Police records also showed the vehicle had a seize tag order. The officer saw the vehicle pass and was unable to determine whether the driver was the registered owner. The officer then pulled the vehicle over in Bradenton Beach. While the officer was approaching the driver’s side window, he saw the driver jump into the back seat of the vehicle and the passenger switch to the driver’s seat. The officer asked the man in the rear of the vehicle to exit it. The man initially denied driving the vehicle, but then changed his story to say that he was operating the vehicle because his brother was recovering from surgery. The registered owner of the vehicle was not present. The officer issued a citation to the driver-turned-passenger “due to his deliberate attempt to mislead law enforcement” for driving without a license, and the case was closed.