The following are actual police reports as written by Longboat Key Police Officers. They are edited for length, punctuation and to protect privacy.
Feb. 14
Suspicious
11:46 a.m.
Officer Van Dyke responded to Jackson Way in reference to a suspicious person. The caller said that someone was illegally trimming mangroves at the property. Upon arrival, Officer Van Dyke spoke with the property owner and advised him that a subject was illegally trimming mangroves at the property. Upon arrival, Officer Van Dyke spoke with the property owner and advised him that a caller nearby was concerned that he was illegally clearing the mangroves. Officer Van Dyke didn’t observe any obvious violations. The homeowner advised that he was only trimming the mangroves as he intends to sell the property. The owner also advised that he intends to apply for permits to trim the mangroves further. Officer Van Dyke then called the complainant and advised him of the results. Case clear.
Boat
8:32 p.m.
Officer Mathis responded to Harbourside Drive in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, Officer Mathis spoke with the complainant who advised he is an employee for the Moorings. He further explained that he observed a vessel tied up in a slip that wasn’t supposed to be there. The complainant advised he confronted the people in the vessel about being at the location. A verbal confrontation occurred and according to the complainant the man and woman were at the location visiting friends at a neighboring slip. The complainant asked the man and woman to leave the Moorings and at his request the couple untied their vessel and left the area. At the complainant’s request, Officer Mathis reached out to the woman on the boat and received no answer and left a voicemail advising that the Moorings requested they not return to the property unless they wish to pay for future services. At the time of the incident, the complainant was unable to get the registration from the vessel or the man’s name. The vessel and the couple were gone prior to Officer Mathis’s arrival. Case clear.
Feb. 15
Mooring
2:02 a.m.
Officer Troyer while on patrol and performing a business check of the restaurant on Broadway, observed a boat moored up to the restaurant docks and the sign said “No overnight mooring.” Officer Troyer made contact with the owner of the vessel who identified himself. Officer Troyer informed the boat owner the reason he was there and the owner said he was moored up due to the rudder breaking on his sailboat and being stranded. The owner said he spoke with the manager of the restaurant and was told he could stay overnight until he gets the vessel out of the water for repairs. The owner also said his vessel was not in distress. Based on Officer Troyer’s investigation, he had no way of verifying the story due to the time of night and did not have any calls for service regarding the owner’s presence. Nothing criminal was observed. Case clear.
Animal
1:58 p.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to the 6900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a large brown German Shepherd with two women. Upon arriving on scene, Officer Pescuma canvassed the area and observed two women with a large German Shepherd. Officer Pescuma made contact with the owner who stated the dog was a service dog. Officer Pescuma reiterated that the dog must remain on a leash. The owner complied and understood the town ordinance. The caller was notified of the findings. Case clear.
Welfare check
9:41 p.m.
Officer Mathis was dispatched to the 5300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a welfare check. The complainant advised his father arrived in town earlier and had not checked in with family since arriving. Longboat Key Police Department on scene and made contact with the father who accidentally left his phone on the airplane mode and was sleeping. The father advised everything was fine. Case clear.
Trespassing
10:18 p.m.
Officer Troyer while on patrol responded to Publix on a report of trespassing. According ot he complainant, a man was seen refusing to leave the property after being asked to do so. Upon arrival, Officer Troyer met with the complainant to which he reported the following: the employee was trying to close up the store when he observed the man loitering around the back portion of the property. The employee asked the transient man to leave, but he moved over to the east side of the building. Officer Troyer asked the employee if he wished to have the man trespassed from the property, which he indicated he did. The employee informed Officer Troyer he was a Publix employee and was an agent of the property. Officer Troyer spoke with the complainant and informed the transient man for the reason for his contact. The transient man informed Officer Troyer that he felt he was not trespassing because he moved from the rear of the building but he understood. Officer Troyer asked the transient man for a form of identification. The transient man handed the officer his wallet which revealed his Arizona Driver’s License as well as a Florida Identification card, which belonged to a man who lived in Clearwater. Officer Troyer asked the transient about he identification card, which he indicated he found the ID recently. The transient man and Officer Troyer conversed about his living conditions. The transient man informed he moved from Arizona and was currently “Going South” from Clearwater, Florida where he could find alligators and make YouTube videos swimming with them. The man refused any type of medical treatment. Officer Troyer cleared the transient through the Sarasota County Dispatch Center for any wants or warrants. The man was clear and had a valid Driver’s License. Officer Troyer completed a Longboat Key Police Department Trespass warning per the man’s request the transient man signed the form to complete the trespass warning and formally Trespass the man from the property. The manager signed and thumb printed the form as well. Officer Troyer explained Florida Trespass laws to the transient man and observed him lease the property. The trespass warning was turned into the records department an Officer Troyer entered the found identification card into property and evidence as found property.
Feb. 17
Vehicle stop
10:06 a.m.
Officer Miklos while on patrol was traveling southbound on Gulf of Mexico Drive saw a registration check of a gray Mercedes van that was traveling in front of his patrol vehicle. The NCIC/FCIC return for the vehicle returned with a valid registration to an owner who had expired Florida Driver’s License since Oct 6 2019. The FCIC return described the Hispanic man as 5’6” tall. Officer Miklos initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle via emergency lights and sirens and met with the driver on the New Pass Bridge. Upon making contact with the vehicle, the driver advised that his brother was the registered owner. At this time, the driver matched the description of the FCIC return. Officer Miklos requested the driver’s Driver’s License. The driver, provided an Argentina Driver’s License and passport with a USA visa. The driver advised he had been living full time in the USA for over a year and a half and was still trying to get a driver’s license. Officer Miklos returned to his car and issued the driver a criminal citation for operating a vehicle without a valid driver license. The driver acknowledged the Sarasota County Court date. The driver was allowed to park the vehicle at Overlook Park until he made arrangements for a valid driver to pick up the vehicle. Case clear.
Property
3:00 p.m.
Officer Ericsson was dispatched to Bay Isles Parkway on a reported Property Damage involving an access gate arm being struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, Officer Ericsson contacted the security guard at the gate for Bay Isles and she said that at approximately 2 p.m. while working the gate, she heard a crashing sound and observed a vehicle traveling west from the gate shack dragging the security gate. The vehicle stopped and she made contact with the driver. Officer Ericsson contacted the guard who said he was leaving the neighborhood and passing the gate house. The gate arm went up automatically for the vehicle in front of his and he proceeded to follow the vehicle. As he passed the gate arm, the arm closed on top of his vehicle causing it to break off. Upon his arrival, an employee had already placed the arm back into its position, but he said the wiring would need to be replaced. The arm itself appeared intact. Officer Ericsson observed a video of the incident, which was consistent with the driver’s statement. It appeared the gate arm was up as he was following another vehicle and it closed onto the top of his van, approximately at the passenger side door. It appeared from all statements and the video that the driver was not aware the gate was closing. Case clear.
Feb. 18
Citizen assist
9:04 a.m.
Officer Ericsson was dispatched to Kingfisher Lane on an illegally parked Chevrolet Malibu parked in the driveway. Officer Ericsson contacted the homeowner who stated that he called in error. He said the car belonged to a worker who is working on his property and he didn’t know they were there. Case clear.
Feb. 19
Fire
4:22 p.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to the intersection of Bay Isles Parkway in reference to a blown transformer and wire hanging down. Traffic light is not operational. Upon arriving on scene, the Police Department had secured the area with cones and FPL was notified with a 30 minute ETA. While on scene, the traffic lights became operational and cycled normally. Officer Pescuma assisted with scene safety without incident. Case clear.
Feb. 20
Found property
3:30 p.m.
Officer Martinson while on patrol was flagged down by a citizen about a found cell phone. A short time later the phone rang and Officer Martinson answered it and spoke to a man who stated the phone belonged to a man. The man said the phone belonged to his friend’s wife and he would have his wife get in contact with the phone owner’s wife. At approximately 3:53 p.m. a woman called the police department and stated she was the cell phone owner’s wife. Officer Martinson made arrangements to meet at the park at approximately 6:30 p.m. to give her the cell phone. Then at approximately 5 p.m., a man called the man called the police department and verbally identified himself and gave the Officer permission to give his cell phone to his wife. Case clear.
