Oct. 17
Disturbance
1:50 a.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to Sands Point Road in reference to a suspicious person. The caller is an employee of the resort and stated that there is a man in the lobby making strange comments and making her feel uncomfortable. Records show that the police department responded to a similar call involving the same subject on Oct. 16. Upon arrival, Officer Pescuma met with the security guard at the front gate who advised the subject, got into an Uber and departed the area. The man left the area without incident. Case clear
Incident
12:45 p.m.
Sgt. Smith was dispatched to a suspicious incident originating from a 911 open line. The initial call received from a Verizon number, which was pinged to the area of Sands Point Road. Dispath reported an open line with background noise and an automated female voice repeating different phrases including, “I was afraid.” Additional phone taps and unintelligible voices were also noted. Upon arrival, Officers checked the area and subsequently made direct contact with the individual who placed the call. The subject who was a pool maintenance worker, advised there was no problem and confirmed the call was an accidental pocket dial. No criminal activity or suspicious circumstances were observed. The call was determined to be unfounded and closed with no further action required.
Oct. 18
Noise
7:45 a.m.
Sgt. Smith was dispatched to Broadway in reference to a possible noise ordinance violation. Upon arrival, Sgt. Smith made contact with the worker who was operating a leaf blower. The man indicated he had just started the equipment to test it. Per Town ordinance construction and related noise is prohibited before 8 a.m. Sgt. Smith advised the man of the violation. A verbal warning was issued and the incident was documented and entered into TRACS. Case clear.
Vehicle
11:48 a.m.
Officer Maple while on patrol in the 4000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive noticed a white Toyota Highlander positioned on the side of the road. The vehicle appeared to be experiencing mechanical problems. Officer Pescuma pulled over to assist and make contact with the driver. The driver identified herself who stated she was the owner of the Highlander and she was having problems with her vehicle. Officer Pescuma worked with driver to assess the situation with her vehicle. Through combined efforts, Officer Pescuma was able to successfully help remedy the situation that was affecting her car. After helping to resolve the mechanical issue, the woman was able to safely get her vehicle back on the road. The assistance was completed without incident and no further police action was required. Case clear..
Citizen assist
7:58 p.m.
Officer Martinson was dispatched to the Longboat Pass Bridge on a call of a Citizen Assist. Upon arrival, Officer Martinson assisted the bridgetender in moving approximately 20 people who were fishing in the restricted area on the bridge. All the parties complied and moved to other areas where fishing was allowed. Case clear.
Oct. 19
Person
6:38 p.m.
Officer Miklos and Officer Martinson were dispatched to Gulfside Road in reference to a suspicious person. Upon arrival, Officer Miklos made contact with the caller’s husband who stated a man in black was building a tent int he dunes and looked to be setting up a camp for the night. Officer Martinson and Officer Miklos made contact with a white man in a black shirt, pants and backwards hat near the dunes. The man had set up a plastic temporary tent. Officer Miklos asked the man what his plans for the night were in which he replied he did not know. Officer Miklos provided information on overnight caping on Longboat Key. The man advised he didn’t know you couldn’t sleep on Longboat Key and said he would pack his belongings up. The man didn’t provide his ID and left without incident. At the time of the incident, no criminal violation or town ordinance violation was observed. Case clear.
Oct. 20
Parking
8:59 a.m.
Officer Mathis was dispatched to Binnacle Point Drive in reference to the caller they couldn’t pull a boat with trailer off their property due to a dump trailer in the roadway. Upon his arrival tot he location, Officer Mathis did observe the two lane roadway open for the most part. The dump trailer was half on the shoulder and half on the roadway open for the most part. The dump trailer was completing hurricane damage repairs to a home on Spanish Drive. Officer Mathis spoke with the woman who resides at the home and she explained that they are completing work on a nearby residence and that she didn’t want the trailer there for whenever they wanted to pull their boat into and out of the driveway. Neither portion of the circular driveway waws blocked, the roadway was passable and access to either side of the driveway is open. The woman further explained that she was selling her residence and that the new homeowners have a 36-foot vessel and would not be able to use the driveway with the trailer parked at its current location. Officer Mathis spoke with the trailer company via telephone and they explained that the trailer was dropped off to assist with debris removal from a hurricane damaged home and the crew was actively using the trailer to remove site debris. Officer Mathis asked him if he could work with the neighbors and possibly relocate the trailer. The man apologized for any inconvenience the trailer had caused and assured that he would move the trailer if and when needed. During the incident, Officer Mathis observed numerous workers loading debris into the trailer as it was actively being used. Unbeknownst to Officer Mathis, the homeowner had already contacted the company via cell phone prior to the officer’s arrival. Trying to resolve the issue at hand, Officer Mathis asked the homeowner when they would need the road clear to move the vessel, she mentioned earlier and she said it wouldn’t be for another couple of weeks. The worker advised he would have his crew move the trailer once they were done loading it within the hour.
Oct. 21
Trespassing
11:25 a.m.
Officer Martinson while on patrol in Greer Island when he observed a middle aged husband and wife walking along the privately owned seawall. Officer Martinson stopped the couple and advised them they were walking through someone’s yard and that it is private property. Officer Martinson pointed out the posted no trespassing sign and advised them the owners will call the police to have them trespassed if they continue to cut through the property while walking along the beach. The couple apologized and stated they would walk back out tot he Gulf of Mexico Drive to get around the property on their way back to the beach. It did not appear that the owners were home at the time nor was there a reported complaint. Case clear.
Oct. 22
Civil
9:29 p.m.
Officer Martinson responded to Bayport Way regarding a civil dispute between a condominium owner and a former construction worker. The complainant stated that several months ago they had hired someone through Home Deport to do a bathroom remodel. The owner stated the man did a horrible job and both parties agreed to a half payment for the work that had been done. The owner stated that today out of the blue, the man sent several text messages stating he didn’t receive the rest of the payment he would dump the debris back on their property. The homeowner stated they were currently out of town for the next several months and wanted Officer Martinson to check on their property and patrol the area throughout the night. Officer Martinson drove over to the property to check if any debris had been left on the homeowners property or any other damage had occurred. Everything appeared to be normal. Officer Martinson then spoke with the worker via cell phone about today’s events and the worker stated he did tell them he did contact the homeowner about his past due payment and when they refused to pay him he did say he would return the property and debris that he removed from their residence and place it on the property. The worker stated he was never intending to damage anything but only return what he had removed. Officer Martinson advised him to not dump the debris back on the property and to stop texting them about his payment. Officer Martinson told him that he needs to go through civil claims court if he wants to get paid the money he feels he deserves for the work he did. The worker agreed. Case clear.
