Police investigate after shell casings, not shells, reported washed up on beach

Friday, March 6

The opposite of speeding

1:31 a.m., 4200 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: A police officer on traffic duty stepped into action when he witnessed a vehicle traveling slowly on Gulf of Mexico Drive. According to a police report, a Nissan sedan was traveling in the bike lane slowly, estimated to be about 20 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. The officer activated his siren and pulled over the slow driver. The woman told the officer that she was lost and having trouble reading the road signs, which is why she was traveling so slowly in the bike lane. The officer escorted the woman to the condo unit.

Saturday, March 7

The wrong type of shells on shore

3:19 p.m., 2109 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Suspicious incident: A police officer took a stroll on the beach looking for shells on a recent Saturday afternoon, but he wasn’t looking for sea shells. The officer was responding to an anonymous call from a person who said that six gunshell casings had washed up on the beach. While at the section of the beach the shells were apparently seen, the officer talked to several beachgoers, none of whom had heard of or seen any shells of the sort. With no shells found, the officer left the beach.

For rent, but not an open house

3:12 p.m., Old Compass Road

Suspicious person: A woman called police after she witnessed two other women walking around her property. The caller gave the license plate and a description of the two women to dispatch, and when police pulled into the neighborhood, they saw the vehicle and suspects quickly. The officer spoke to the women who said they were looking at the house because it was listed for rent and they were interested. The women showed the officer an email from the Realtor confirming the rental of the house. The police then spoke to the complainant who confirmed she was planning on renting her house, but did not want people on the property because of potential liabilities. The prospective landlord said she would contact her Realtor.

Sunday, March 8

Bridge-jumping kids

3 p.m., Longboat Pass Bridge

Juvenile disturbance: Police were sent to Longboat Pass Bridge after a report had come in claiming that kids were jumping from the drawbridge. When police arrived, they saw a group of four boys gathering their belongings near the base of the bridge. Police told the group of kids that it was illegal to jump off the bridge and that they were risking injury by doing so. The group told the officer they were leaving, got into a lifted white pickup truck and drove away.  

Tuesday, March 10

Laughing it off

1:21 a.m., 5841 Gulf of Mexico Drive

Citizen assist: Police were called to a hotel on Longboat Key for a disturbance late at night. When the officer arrived, he met with a male guest of the hotel who said he had returned to his room when he realized he did not have his room key. Luckily, his wife was in the room. Unluckily, his wife was fast asleep. The guest then recalled to police that he was banging on the door attempting to wake his wife. Eventually, the noise woke her and he was let into the room at last. The officer informed the couple why he was called to the hotel. The couple shared a laugh and enjoyed the rest of their five-year wedding anniversary without any more visits from the police.