The following are actual police reports as written by Longboat Key Police Officers. They are edited for length, punctuation and to protect privacy.
July 5
Dog on the beach
9:03 p.m.
Sgt. Montfort was dispatched to Gulfside Drive for a report of an unleashed dog on the beach. Sgt. Montfort arrived in the area and patrolled out to the beach where he located a small group of subjects with a chihuahua. Sgt. Montfort announced his presence and was greeted by the owner who showed his Florida Driver License. The man said that the dog had run out of the rental and out to the beach and was actively attempting to coral the dog. The dog was captured and the man returned the dog to the rental unit. The owner was issued a warning and Sgt. Montfort cleared the scene for additional calls holding within the confines of Longboat Key. Case clear.
Citizen assist
10:11 p.m.
Officer Mathis was dispatched to Cedar Court in reference to a burglary. Upon his arrival to the location, Officer Mathis met with the complainant and current tenant. The complainant explained that while he was sleeping an unknown person(s) entered the residence which was locked. The complainant further explained that he heard furniture moving and the doorknob to the bedroom being turned. The complainant advised the bedroom door was locked and he began shouting and he heard the unknown man leave the residence. The complainant then exited the bedroom and found luggage at the top of the stairs that did not belong to him. While Officer Mathis was in the parking lot speaking with the complainant, a man approached the Officer. The man identified himself by producing his issued Swiss Driver’s License. The man advised that he and his family had just gotten off of a 19-hour flight from Switzerland and arrived at Cedars Court which they had rented direct from the owner. The man had the appropriate code and key to the unit. The man explained that he entered the unit and began to bring in luggage when he realized that someone was already there. Startled, the man ran out of the unit and waited in the parking lot. The man advised that he was trying to contact the property management but his cell service would not let his call go through. The man advised that he couldn’t find his rental paperwork but he had checked in at the office and was given a packet of rental paperwork and keys to the unit. The man further advised that he was supposed to check out first thing in the morning. The man and the complainant were both upset at the rental unit possibly being double booked. The complainant explained that he and his family would go to a hotel for the night and return in the morning to speak with property management and correct whatever mistake had occurred. Case clear.
July 6
Water line
6:20 p.m.
Officer Mathis was dispatched to the 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a water leak. Upon arrival, Officer Mathis spoke with the complainant and he explained that the unisex restroom by the playground had a water leak and water was constantly running. Officer Mathis entered the restroom and observed the toilet was running and would not shut off. Officer Mathis cut off the water and notified Public Works of the issue. Case clear.
Driver’s license
6:33 p.m.
Officer Pescuma received a license plate alert for a driver with a suspended/revoked/canceled driver’s license. Officer Pescuma located the vehicle traveling westbound on North Shore Road and conducted a traffic stop. Officer Pescuma made contact with the driver and informed him of the reason for the traffic stop. Officer Pescuma told the driver that his license was suspended, he responded that he just bought the vehicle from a friend and handed Officer Pescuma the title of the vehicle. Upon further investigation it was found that the tag did not match the vehicle identification number of the Ford Escape. The tag came back to a silver Nissan. The driver advised that he just purchased the vehicle and put his girlfriend’s Florida tag on the Ford Escape. Additionally, the vehicle did not have insurance on file. The officer issued a criminal citation for the vehicle not registered and also a citation was issued for no insurance on file and failure to pay registration. Case clear.
July 7
Sea turtle
1:03 a.m.
Sgt. Montfort observed a vehicle parked at the 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive for a closed commercial business. Sgt. Montfort exited his patrol vehicle and observed that the vehicle was unoccupied and warm to the touch. Furthermore, Sgt. Montfort observed a large quantity of fishing gear located in the vehicle. Officers Mathis and Pescuma arrived shortly thereafter and patrolled out to the beach. While on the beach, three men were observed utilizing white flashlights on the beach. As officers approached, they made their presence known and identified themselves as police officers. The men immediately turned their white headlamps to a red in color setting. They made contact with the men who said that they did not know about turtle season. The men were advised that the beach operating hours were from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. The men gathered their belongings and were escorted off the beach. All the subjects provided their State of Florida driver’s licenses to identify themselves. All were issued civil citations for violations of Marine Turtle Protection. The men left without incident, case clear.
July 8
Property damage
2:00 p.m.
Officer Nazareno was dispatched to Penfield Street for a property damage report. Upon arrival, Officer Nazareno met with the complainant who advised that his mailbox at the end of the driveway was damaged, possibly struck by a work vehicle driving through the street. The complainant advised that the incident took place between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. The complainant stated that he had left his house at approximately 2 p.m. and the mailbox was still intact and noticed the mailbox on the ground when he returned at 3 p.m. The complainant checked the footage from his Ring camera placed by the front door, but the mailbox was out of the field of view. The only vehicles seen on the camera were traveling the opposite side of the street from the mailbox. The estimated damage on the white metal mailbox was $250. Officer Nazareno canvassed the area and spoke with the construction workers working at the intersection of Penfield Street and General Harris Street who advised that numerous work trucks have driven through the street but did not notice any of them hitting the mailbox. The complainant was given a case number and email address for further information or updates regarding the incident. Case clear.
July 9
Expired registration
7:51 a.m.
Sgt. Puccio while on patrol received a notification from the camera for a vehicle with an expired registration. Sgt. Puccio observed the vehicle pass traveling northbound on Gulf of Mexico Drive. At that time, Sgt. Puccio initiated a traffic stop at the 2200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive and met with the driver. Sgt. Puccio explained to him the reason for the stop and asked him for his driver’s license which he stated he did not have a Florida driver’s license. The driver did provide a Brazilian ID, of which positive identification was possible and registration to the vehicle he was driving was obtained through Sarasota Sheriff’s Officer Dispatch. Sgt. Puccio issued the driver a UTC for driving without a driver license and a written warning for the expired tag. He was provided a Sarasota County Court date. He contacted a friend who was en route to the nearby Publix with a valid driver’s license to pick him up and drive his vehicle which was relocated to the parking lot. The listed driver was instructed not to drive until he obtains a valid driver’s license. Case clear.
Parking
2:51 p.m.
Officer Nazareno was dispatched to Wedge Lane for a citizen assist call from an anonymous caller regarding a possible abandoned vehicle. The caller stated that a white van on a trailer had been parked there for numerous days. Upon arrival, Officer Nazareno observed a white Mercedes Benz Sprinter van on a trailer hooked to a Ford 150 pickup truck legally parked on the street in front of Wedge Lane. Officer Nazareno made contact with the owner who lives on Wedge Lane, he advised he is moving the van out of state and no parking violations were observed. Case clear.
July 10
Altercation
12:18 p.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to the 5300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a possible threat towards an employee that occurred 20 minutes prior to dispatch. Upon arriving on scene, Officer Pescuma was greeted by a UPS employee and complainant. The complainant said that a 55 year old man entered the UPS store and started a verbal altercation with himself and another UPS employee. The complainant said that the man threated to throw him in the Gulf of Mexico. No physical altercation took place and the man left the store. The complainant said that the man is having a relationship with the store’s owner while they are going through a divorce, and that the men were friends and have prior history. This is the first time a verbal altercation occurred between the two. Officer Ramsaier and Officer Pescuma attempted to make contact with the man at his business, however both men were gone on arrival. Additionally, the elements of an assault are not met. An assault is an intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do violence to the person of another, coupled with an apparent ability to do so, and doing some act which creates a well-founded fear in such other person that such violence is imminent. Case clear.
July 11
Resident assist
12:05 a.m.
Officer Mathis was dispatched to the 1400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a woman that was denied access to the property by security. Upon his arrival to the incident location, Officer Mathis met with the complainant who explained that the owner had advised security that the woman was no longer allowed as a guest and entered into the system as such. The complainant further advised that the woman was then stopped at the gate after her Uber dropped her off at the entrance to the property. The complainant contacted 911 for police assistance. The woman advised that she and the man had just moved to this location and she does not know why she is not allowed on the property. The complainant contacted the man via telephone and handed the phone to the Officer. The man explained that he did not want the woman living there but he would let her stay the night or until she could find a place to go. The two said no altercation would take place and they would find an alternative residence in the morning. Case clear.
