Civil
8:00 a.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to the 4600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a disturbance involving a guest payment dispute. Upon arrival, Officer Pescuma made contact with the hotel management who advised that a registered guest and rented a room for hte duration of his stay. Management stated that during the stay, the man invited a friend who was not a registered guest of the hotel. According to management, the man mistakenly entered and utilized an adjoining room which was connected internally to the originally rented room. Management advised that the man remained in the adjoining room overnight but was not listed on the reservation and did not complete any registration paperwork. Hotel staff stated that upon checkout, staff approached the man but he left the premises in a 2022 gray Honda Civic without making payment arrangements for the adjoining room. Management initially believed this to be a potential theft of lodging incident. Officer Pescuma made contact with the man’s friend in the lobby, and he said that the man believed the adjoining room was included as part of the original rental and did not intentionally occupy a separate room without authorization. He stated there was no intent to defraud the hotel and the use of the adjoining room was accidental due to confusion regarding the room configuration. During the investigation it was determined that the friend ultimately paid the outstanding balance for the adjoining room on behalf of the original guest. The guest then reimbursed the friend for the full amount owed which was $730. Hotel management confirmed that the balance had been paid in full and no financial loss was sustained by the business. Management declined to pursue criminal charges and advised they considered the matter resolved. Based on the information obtained, this incident appears to be a civil dispute resulting from a misunderstanding regarding room occupancy and payment responsibility. No further action. Case clear.
Resident assist
4:14 p.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to the 4200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a verbal disturbance. While on patrol in the area, Officer Mathis advised via radio that a woman had waved him down requesting assistance. Upon arrival, Officer Pescuma made contact with the complainant who said she needed assistance having a man help her exit her Jeep. She advised that the man had been helping her with her business and that the two became involved in a verbal argument. She said the argument escalated verbally but did not become physical. The woman further claimed the man had a ‘No Contact Order’ involving her, however she mentioned that she is trying to help the man out and he helps her with her business. She was unable to provide documentation of the alleged order at the time of the incident. A FCIC/NCIC check was conducted on both parties, which yielded negative results for any active injunctions, warrants, or no-contact orders. Officer Mathis made contact with the man. He stated he had been assisting the woman with business-related matters when they began arguing. He denied any physical altercation and advised he was willing to leave the area to prevent further issues. Both parties were advised that no active court order was found and that the incident appeared to be a civil dispute involving a verbal disagreement. Neither party alleged any physical violence, threats or criminal conduct. No signs of battery or injury were observed on either individual. The man exited the vehicle upon request. Both parties were separated and advised to cease contact for the remainder of the day to prevent further escalation. Both complied. Both parties departed the area separately without incident. Case clear.
Feb. 15
Dog
11:00 a.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to the 1100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a dog on the beach. The caller did not wish to meet and said that a woman was walking a small black and white dog on the beach and was last seen headed northbound. Upon arrival, Officer Pescuma located the woman who stated that the dog is a service dog and is properly documented and is marked visually as a service dog. Case clear.
Citizen assist
12:56 p.m.
Officer Mathis was dispatched to 4400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a citizen assist. The complainant had contacted the police in reference to realtor signs on the right-of-way Upon his arrival, Officer Mathis canvased the area and observed several realtor signs near the front office in a pile. Officer Mathis contacted multiple realtors and advised of the town ordinance and the location of the signs that had been removed from the right-of-way. Case clear.
Feb. 16
Citizen assist
10:55 a.m.
Officer Martinson was dispatched to the area of Gulf of Mexico Drive and Longboat Club Road on a call of a suspicious person who was hitch hiking. Upon arrival, Officer Martinson made contact with the man as he walked southbound along Gulf of Mexico Drive in the bike lane in front of the Mobil gas station. The man stated he has a condominium but did not have a vehicle. The man said he left his cell phone at a deli in downtown Sarasota and was walking there. The man said he was hoping the trolley would come by or someone would pick him up and so he did not have to walk the six miles. Officer Martinson contacted Sgt. Puccio and he granted permission to transport the man to the deli. Officer Martinson aired both his starting and ending miles to dispatch over the radio and recorded the transport on Officer Martinson’s starting and ending miles to dispatch over the radio and recorded the transport. Case clear.
Feb. 17
Citizen assist
12:21 p.m.
Officer Puccio while on patrol in the 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive was talking to a citizen who was parked next tot he town electric car charging station and stated that the vehicle was parked, using the hargr for over the two hour limit and he had unplugged it so he could charge his vehicle. At that time, the owner of the Porsche who was playing pickleball asked if her car had been unplugged and stated she had been there since 10:45 a.m. and not over two hours. She proceeded over tot he vehicle with her car keys as the owner of the other vehicle reconnected the charger back into the Porsche without incident. All parties went back to doing what they were doing and required no further assistance from the police. Case clear.
Boat
2:00 p.m.
Officer Tillman was dispatched to General Harris Street for a submerged boat. According to dispatch, the vessel had recently taken on water and is now fully submerged. The complainant advised that the residence has been unoccupied since last year’s hurricane. Officer Tillman arrived along with the Fire Department who assisted in case of possible fuel spillage. Officer Observed the vessel to be fully submerged and tied off to a dilapidated boat dock. The vessel appeared to be an approximate 25-foot mullet boat with no Florida numbers showing due to being submerged. There did not appear to be a fuel leak and they would contact Public Works and advise them of the situation. Officer Tillman was advised by Sgt. Puccio that Officer Pescuma had been made aware of the situation. Officer Tillman was advised by Sgt. Puccio that Marine Officer Pescuma had been made aware of the situation. Case clear.
Feb. 18
Citizen assist
4:02 p.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to North Shore Road in reference to an alleged theft o trash cans. Upon arrival, Officer Pescuma met with the homeowner who stated that he believed his two Manatee County Waste Management trash cans were stolen on an unknown date/time. The homeowner stated he just got back into town and they were not in the same area he left them. Officer Pescuma conducted a canvass of the area and located the trash cans on the back side of the residence. The homeowner stated he did have friends staying at the residence and they could have placed them on opposite side of the home. No theft occurred. Case clear.
Feb. 19
Vehicle
2:41 p.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to Bay Isles Parkway in reference to a suspicious vehicle. The caller who did not wish to meet said that she observed a gray Lexus with no tag and windows down with a dog inside parked for approximately 5 minutes. Upon arriving on scene, Officer Pescuma observed a vehicle that fits that description. The registered owner was in the driver seat. This officer made contact with the driver and he said that he drives for Instacart and had to run into Publix. Officer Pescuma inquired about the tag and he stated that he had to replace a magnet that hold the tag on the back of the trunk. Officer Pescuma ran a check through FCIC/NCIC yielding negative results. Case clear.
Welfare check
3:18 p.m.
Officer Van Dyke responded to the 3700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a welfare check. The complainant called and said she hadn’t heard from her father for approximately two weeks, and a welfare check was requested. Upon arrival, Officer Van Dyke met with the father and he advised that his daughter hadn’t called him. Additionally, his cell phone was in his vehicle. He appeared healthy and hygienic. Officer Van Dyke then called the daughter with the results, case clear.
