The following are actual police reports as written by Longboat Key Police Officers. They are edited for length, punctuation and to protect privacy.
Oct. 24
Person
12:38 a.m.
Officer Miklos while on patrol at Bay Isles Parkway when he observed an unknown man walking a bicycle near the entrance to Publix. Officer Miklos initiated a consensual conversation with the man who advised he jsut started a new construction job on Longboat Key. The man advised he wanted to arrive early to ensure he was not late for his new job. The man advised he was attempting to get his driver license but did not currently have one. The man advised he rode his bicycle from Manatee County and was looking for a place to stay until his starting time. Officer Miklos advised the man that longboat Key has strict town ordinances that probhibit overnight camping and loitering at night. Officer Miklos advised the man he could not stay near any business and the public parks did not open until 5 a.m. The man advised he was unaware of any ordinance and would travel south to the New Pass Bridge until Overlook Park opened at 5 a.m. A record after the fact video on Vehicle 119 was created showing the man leaving the parking lot. Case clear.
Oct. 25
Persons
2:28 a.m.
Officer Van Dyke responded to the 4800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to suspicious persons. Although the caller didn’t wish to meet, he said that the individuals were consuming narcotics on the beach after hours. Upon arrival, responding Officers located a group of adults on the beach. They didn’t appear to be in possession of drugs and not under the influence. The subjects were advised of the town ordinance regarding hours on the beach. The subjects returned to their condo while responding officers remained on the scene. Case clear.
Oct. 26
Vehicle
7:58 a.m.
Officer Mathis was dispatched to North Shore Road in reference to a suspicious vehicle. The man reported that a suspicious white Chevrolet Impala with a rear window busted out was in the parking lot and it did not belong at the location which is properly posted as private property. As Officer Mathis arrived at the incident location, the suspicious Impala with a white male driver was leaving. The driver was operating the vehicle while unrestrained. Officer Mathis then activated his emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop. The driver pulled over to the southbound shoulder of Gulf of Mexico Drive just south of North Shore Road. Officer Mathis approached the passenger side window, introduced himself and provided the reason for the traffic stop. During this time, Sgt. Montfort contacted the driver at the incident location. In sum and substance, the driver advised that the Impala was not that of a property owner nor registered guest of the location and therefore trespassing. Officer Mathis then advised the driver of the suspicious vehicle 911 call. The driver explained that he and his girlfriend were camping on the beach last night and that once he returned to the car this morning, a man contacted him about trespassing on the property. At this time, the homeowner did not wish to criminally trespass the man or his girlfriend since they just used the parking lot and swam across to Greer island to campt. The man further advised that after the contact with the homeowner is when he entered his vehicle, left the property and passed by his patrol unit while not wearing a seatbelt. Officer Troyer and Officer Mathis then gave the man the opportunity together his remaining items from the beach and lease. Once the man gathered his items from the beach, he left the area. The man was ultimately cited for not wearing his seatbelt while driving on Gulf of Mexico Drive and given a verbal warning for trespassing on private property.
Person
3:20 p.m.
Officer Troyer was dispatched to Harbourside Drive in reference to a suspicious person. The caller said two juveniles driving a white Ford F-150 and a red Toyota Tacoma were fishing on private property. Upon arrival, Officer Troyer met with the security enforcement for the resort and he stated that at 12 p.m. two juveniles were fishing on private property and everytime the security officer told them to leave, the juveniles snuck away. The guard said they were only able to verbally told the juveniles to leave but did they evaded the guard and would not stick around. The guard felt his only option was to contact the police so that they were aware. The guard did not have any identity on them and suspected vehicles were observed leaving the island prior to the call.
Noise
6:31 p.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to Lighthouse Point Drive in reference to a noise complaint of loud music. Upon arrival, Officer Pescuma met with the caller, who advised that there was loud music coming from across the waterway. Officer Pescuma was able to observe the music stemming from Overlook Park. Officer Pescuma arrived at the park and could still hear the loud music coming from a gray Toyota SUV. Officer Pescuma made contact with the owner and advised him of the noise complaint and educated him of the town ordinance. The driver complied and turned the music off. A written warning was issued. Case clear.
Property
8:45 a.m.
Officer Nazareno was dispatched to the 1900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive for a property damage report. Upon arrival, Officer Nazareno made contact with the complainant who advised that a white pickup truck with a trailer turned into Harbour Sound Drive. The driver advised the driver that he was dropping off a tree at Harbour Point Road and gave his information. The estimated amount of damage to the gate operator box was $7,000. The homeonwer was given the case number.
Oct. 28
Vehicle
10:11 a.m.
Officer Mathis while on marine patrol observed a vessel washed ashore on the east side of Whale Key. The vessel is a sailboat which was unoccupied. An attempt was made to contact the boat owner but was unsuccessful. Officer Mathis will attempt to contact again and begin the process to have the vessel removed. Case clear.
10:17 p.m.
Officer Miklos was traveling southbound in the 5400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive when he observed a large car part in the southbound lane and a racoon laying in the northbound lane. Officer Miklos removed the car part and placed it in the grass on the west side of Gulf of Mexico Drive. Officer Miklos called Officer Tillman and requested he check the police station for a shovel to remove the racoon from the street tot he west side of the roadway. At approximately 11 p.m. Officer Miklos was dispatched to the 5600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a citizen’s assist due to a caller reporting he hit an armadillo south of Harry’s Corner Store and was missing a wheel well cover. The complainant requested a call if the car piece was located. Officer Miklos contacted the complainant and advised him that he had previously removed the piece out of the street and placed it in the grass on the west side of the street. The complainant advised he would retrieve it in the morning on his way into work. Case clear.
Oct. 29
Buoy
4:01 p.m.
Officer Mathis contacted police in reference to a trap floating in the exterior canal behind her residence. Upon Officer Mathis’ arrival at the incident location, Officer Mathis attempted to make contact with the homeowner by ringing the doorbell but received no answer. Officer Mathis then utilized the walkway to the rear area of the home to access the dock. From the dock, Officer Mathis observed what appeared to be a buoy for a submerged trap. From Officer Mathis’ vantage point, he observed no markings on the buoy. The buoy for the submerged trap is floating int he center of the exterior canal and does not appear to be a hazard or blocking the canal. Case clear.
Oct. 30
Person
8:33 p.m.
Officer Pescuma was dispatched to Bay Isles Parkway in reference to a suspicious person in a gray Ford Explorer, SUV attempting to make entry for a Walmart delivery. Upon arriving on scene, Officer Pescuma met with the security guard at the gate and he said that a white woman approached the gate in a Gray Ford SUV trying to make entry to deliver a Walmart order for a resident. The guard gate worker said that he was not notified of the delivery and got concerned and called 911. After multiple attempts to contact the homeowner with negative results, and the delivery driver departed the area before Officer Pescuma’s arrival. Case clear.
