The following are actual police reports as written by Longboat Key Police Officers. They are edited for length, punctuation and to protect privacy.
Feb. 8
Florida tolls
9:11 a.m.
Officer Ericsson was dispatched to Bayou Road on a worthless document call regarding a suspicious text message. Upon arrival, Officer Ericsson contacted the complainant who said that she received a text message. The message advised the woman to pay her ‘Florida tolls’ via the text message. The woman believed the text message to be suspicious and did not respond or send any money. The woman deleted the text and Officer Ericsson’s investigation revealed there was no loss and the text was likely a phishing attempt. Case clear.
Mangroves
12:43 p.m.
Officer Ericsson and Sgt. Puccio were dispatched to the 200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive on an agency assist regarding a party lost in the mangroves. The original call was to Taft Drive, however, a phone ping showed the lost subjects 10 meters off Gulf of Mexico Drive. Upon arrival, Officer Ericsson was able to locate two women across a small body of water in the mangroves just north of Quick Point Park beach. The only access to the two individuals was across the 50 yard wide body of water. Once located, the two women were able to walk through the water and to the path where we were located. The two woman said they were exploring, went off the path and got lost in the thick mangroves. Both women were uninjured and refused medical attention. Case clear.
Citizen assist
2:31 p.m.
Officer Barrett responded to the 1800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive regarding a vessel too close to the beach behind the residence. Upon arrival, Officer Barret made contact with the caller who directed the officer to the vessel. Officer Barrett then made contact with the owner of the boat. The boat was anchored approximately 50 feet off of the beach which was not in violation of any state or local laws. Officer Barrett explained to the boat owner that he was investigating a call from a concerned citizen regarding his boat and his dog. The owner advised that his dog was a service dog. He voluntarily said he would return to his boat and leave. Case clear.
Sept. 9
Door
2:08 a.m.
Officer Maple while on patrol was conducting a business check and located an unsecured rear door. Upon finding the unlocked door, Officer Maple canvassed the building for signs of illegal activity, forced entry or unauthorized personnel with negative results. The building is in the process of a major reconstruction and the owners are currently out of town. The door was secured and business card left at front entrance with event details. Case clear.
Feb. 10
Fire
10:15 a.m.
Officer Smith responded was dispatched to the 5300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive for a report of a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, Longboat Key Police provided traffic control until the fire was extinguished by Longboat Key Fire Department. Case clear.
Vehicle
2:20 p.m.
Officer Pescuma while on patrol received a target alert service hit for a license plate indicating a driver with a suspended/revoked/cancelled driver’s license. Officer Pescuma checked the state link and FCIC/NCIC database and confirmed that the driver had a suspended driver’s license as of Jan. 23. The vehicle was located and a traffic stop was conducted on a 2012 Toyota pickup truck. Officer Pescuma made contact with the driver and introduced himself and provided the reason for the traffic stop. Officer Pescuma asked the driver for his license, registration and proof of insurance. The driver stated he didn’t have a license and it was his spouse’s vehicle. Officer Pescuma asked again if he had a valid driver’s license or any driver’s license and he said he did not nor was ever issued one. Officer Pescuma was able to verify his identity by cross referencing his name on the insurance card, his bank card and his daughter confirming his identity as well as place of residence. Additionally, Officer Pescuma conducted a check for active warrants with negative results. The driver said he was conducting work on Longboat Key. Officer Pescuma issued a criminal citation for no Driver’s License never had one issued. Officer Pescuma advised that the driver could not drive and he arranged for transportation. Case clear.
Driver’s license
10:00 p.m.
Sgt. Montfort while on patrol in the 400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive, and he observed a Nissan Altima travel north on Gulf of Mexico Drive. Sgt. Montfort observed that the windows were down and a man was in the driver’s seat. Sgt. Montfort identified the driver who was previously cited for unknowingly operating a motor vehicle while suspended license. Sgt. Montfort pulled out behind the vehicle to conduct a FCIC/NCIC check on the vehicles registration to which the vehicle signaled a right turn onto Yawl Lane. The driver is a known employee as a security guard. Sgt. Montfort then followed the car onto the side street with the vehicle coming to a rest in the driveway of Yawl Lane and Sgt. Montfort conducted a check which revealed the driver had a suspended driver’s license. Sgt. Montfort then initiated his traffic stop and made contact with the driver who said he missed his turn. In sum and substance it was determined the driver was attempting to avoid Sgt. Montfort because he knew his license was suspended. The man was subsequently processed and released in the field with one uniformed traffic citation. The driver is scheduled to appear in the County Court. Case clear.
Suspicious
11:55 p.m.
Officer Mathis while on patrol observed a Toyota 4Runner parked int eh kayak launch area of Bayfront Park. Officer Mathis activated his lights and as he did so a man walked around the driver’s side of the vehicle to the rear of his vehicle. Officer Mathis introduced himself and asked the driver what he was doing in the park after hours and why his vehicle was parked in the kayak launch area. The man replied that he had just found out his mother had cancer and was upset. Officer Mathis then asked the man for his identification. The man advised his license was in the vehicle. Officer Mathis then asked the man to retrieve his license and vehicle’s documentation. The man walked back to his already opened driver’s door and reached inside the passenger compartment. While doing so, the man chuckled and said “I have a gun in here.” Officer Mathis immediately gave him verbal commands to step away from the vehicle with empty hands and he complied. The man was detained and walked back to the front of the patrol unit to distance themselves from whatever firearm the man thought he had in his vehicle. The man was handcuffed to the rear and the handcuffs were checked for proper fit. The man advised he was an attorney and this was a bit much. Officer Mathis explained to the man that he was not under arrest but detained for the moment. Officer Mathis explained to the man that he was in the park after hours and parked in a no parking area and while reaching inside his vehicle he said he had a gun in. Once Sgt. Montfort and Officer Troyer arrived and it was determined the man was alone in the park and no gun was in immediate reach in the front passenger compartment of his 4Runner, the man was then taken out of handcuffs. The man was cited for being in the park after hours. The man signed the court copy of the citation and provided his cell phone number. Case clear.
Feb. 11
Fishing
12:35 a.m.
Sgt. Montfort while on patrol, observed a vehicle parked after hours in Overlook Park. Sgt. Montfort observed two men sleeping in the vehicle, and so he approached the vehicle and did not observe contraband prior to contact. Sgt. Montfort woke the two men who said that they were fishing and upon returning to the vehicle, fell asleep. The two men provided their identification with a negative return for wants or warrants. Sgt. Montfort issued the men a verbal warning and the two departed the area without incident. Case clear.
Feb. 12
Golf cart
5:01 p.m.
Officer Ericsson and Officer Miklos were dispatched to the Bay Isles Parkway in reference to a golf car traveling southbound causing heavy traffic. While enroute, Officer Miklos conducted a check of Google maps traffic and discovered traffic was backed up into downtown Sarasota. Officer Ericcson conducted a check of the area from Bay Isles Parkway to Gulf of Mexico Drive and did not observe a golf cart. While arriving at Bay Isles Parkway, Officer Miklos observed a low speed vehicle turn northbound onto Gulf of Mexico Drive from Publix. Officer Miklos initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle at Bay Isles Road and didn’t believe the vehicle was the cause of the traffic jam. The driver was issued two traffic warnings and parked the vehicle at CVS until the rental company could tow it back to Holmes Beach. Case clear.
Feb. 13
Trespassing
7:36 a.m.
Officer Ericsson was dispatched to Bay Isles Parkway on a reported Trespassing. Upon arrival, Officer Ericsson contacted the guard who stated a contractor entered the neighborhood before the designated entry time. He said a white van pulled up to the guard house at 7:35 a.m. and he advised the driver to do a U-turn and come back at 7:45 a.m. The driver failed to do a U-turn and proceeded to go to Mistletoe Lane. Officer Miklos and Officer Ericsson then responded to Mistletoe Lane and contacted the driver who did not speak English. Officer Ericsson advised the driver of the community rules via the Google Translate app and the driver apologized for the confusion. Case clear.
