Florida man arrested at Bayfront Park

Friday, June 12

Florida man arrested on alligator, child delinquency charges

7:12 a.m., 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Felony: A police officer on patrol at Bayfront Park ran a license plate and was alerted the owner of the vehicle had a warrant for his arrest. The officer called for backup and waited for their arrival before approaching the vehicle. The officer then approached the driver of the vehicle and confirmed he was the registered owner. The man was taken into custody without incident on charges of illegal killing/possessing/capturing of alligator/crocodilia/eggs and contributing to delinquency or dependency of a child. He was taken to the Sarasota County Jail and was released on bond the same day.

Saturday, June 13

Picked up and dropped off

8:25 a.m., 5500 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious person: An officer was flagged down by an elderly man on a bicycle who had seen someone lying on the sidewalk about a quarter mile south. The officer went to investigate and saw a man with a shaggy red beard, a red hat, red shorts, red Crocs and a yellow shirt lying on his back on the sidewalk. The brightly dressed man told the officer he had just been released from the hospital and was walking to a beach near the grocery store. He asked the officer for a ride. Police drove him to the southern end of the Key and closed the case.

Sunday, June 14

Suspicious photography

12:10 p.m., Gulfside Road

Suspicious person: A call to the police was placed by a resident who was concerned about a man taking photos of houses in the neighborhood. Police met with the caller who told them that the picture-taking man had not stepped foot onto his property but took a picture from the street. The officer surveyed the area on the lookout for a shirtless man on a bicycle. A man matching the description was approached. He told the officer that he was taking photos of real estate listings from the street and showed him the photos on his phone that backed up his claim. With no crime witnessed, police closed the case.

Wednesday, June 17

Sky rat spotted

5:37 p.m., 4800 block Gulf of Mexico Drive

Animal problem: Manatee Sheriff’s Office rerouted a call to the Longboat Key Police Department after receiving a call about a bat in the alcove of a condo building. An officer called the complainant who was told the police department could not help with the issue, but advised him to contact his condo association or a local trapper to see how the animal could be removed. The case was closed.