Ducks lifted from storm drain by Longboat police

Friday, June 5

Don’t throw any parties while we’re away

9:31 p.m., 4711 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Disturbance: A couple who seemed to be in the middle of an argument at a Longboat Key resort hotel room had cops called on them. When an officer arrived, he heard from outside the room a woman speaking loudly and a male voice in the background. The hotel guests answered the door and spoke with the officer. They told him that they were not arguing with each other, but were peeved to discover that their daughter had thrown a party while her parents were away. They were calling the local sheriff’s office because they believed the party was “out of control.” The peeved parents apologized to the Longboat officer and said they were headed home to “handle the situation.” The case, on Longboat Key at least, was closed.

Saturday, June 6

Family reunion

10:01 a.m., 525 Bay Isles Pkwy.

Animal problem: An officer on patrol rescued some waterfowl after hearing a radio report that described a baby duck stuck in a storm drain. The officer pounced at the opportunity to get the proverbial cat out of the tree, and radioed that Sarasota County Animal Services would not be needed as he was on his way. The officer arrived on scene where the caller, a worried mother duck and other ducklings waited. The officer called in backup for help lifting the storm drain and the three stranded ducks were lifted from the depths of the storm drain and placed “without incident” next to a thankful mother duck and family. Case closed.

Monday, June 8

Teens trespass

5:12 p.m., Gulfside Road

Trespassing: Police were called to a house on Gulfside Road on a trespassing call on a Monday evening. The responding officer met with the property owner, who said she heard a sound on the second floor of the house when she entered the first floor to check on the property. She found a bag that wasn’t hers on her patio and took it to show the officer as well. The officer checked both floors of the property but found no intruders. The property owner then pointed out a car parked at an abandoned house next door she did not recognize. The officer ran the license plate through police databases and went back toward the house where he saw three teenagers who told the officer they were retrieving their bags that they stored at the house because they thought it was abandoned. The three boys, two aged 17 and one 18, were detained until backup arrived. The parents were called and came to pick up the minors who were trespassed from the building. The 18-year-old was given a court date. After the group left, an officer found marijuana and paraphernalia in the house, but could not prove to whom it belonged. The drugs were confiscated for destruction and the case was closed.

Wednesday, June 10

No petting

10:32 a.m., 3000 block Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal problem: A manatee in shallow water had backup called on her behalf by a concerned bystander. Longboat Key police were called by a citizen who was concerned by a group of beachgoers who were touching the threatened species. When the officer arrived, the officer observed about six people in the water while a manatee was swimming next to them. The group was not hampering the animal’s movement or touching her. While the officer was educating the crowd about the laws protecting manatees, he noticed a man was drinking an alcoholic beverage and issued him a ticket. Case closed.