The following are actual police reports as written by Longboat Key Police Officers. They are edited for length, punctuation and to protect privacy.
Sept. 6
Driver’s license
9:04 a.m.
Officer Nazareno received an alert from the license plate reader for an expired registration for a Ford pickup traveling eastbound in the 500 block of Bay Isles Parkway. Officer Nazareno verified the hit information through FCIC which showed an expiration date of April 10. Officer Nazareno then observed the vehicle stopped in traffic of Bay Isles Parkway. Officer Nazareno made contact with the driver and explained to him the reason for the stop. The driver stated that his driver’s license was suspended and was unable to display the vehicle registration upon demand. The FCIC/NCIC checks for wants and warrants came back negative. The driver’s Florida license was suspended indefinitely on Feb. 26 for failure to pay traffic fine. The driver was issued a citation for operating a vehicle while driver’s license suspended with knowledge. He was also issued warnings for expired registration and failure to display registration upon demand. The vehicle was picked up by the owner from the scene. Case clear.
Parking
11:42 a.m.
Officer Miklos and Sgt. Puccio were dispatched to Broadway Street due to a suspicious vehicle. Sarasota Sheriff’s Office dispatch advised the caller did not wish to meet with the police, however, stated the vehicle was parked in bushes and he was unable to see inside the vehicle. Upon arrival, Sgt. Puccio and Officer Miklos discovered the vehicle parked in a driveway off the alleyway off Poinsettia Ave. Officer Miklos didn’t observe anything suspicious in regards to the vehicle as it was legally parked on private property and had sunshades on the windows. Officer Miklos conducted an NCIC check of the registration which returned the vehicle was not reported stolen. The vehicle’s owner had a valid driver’s license from Sarasota. Case clear.
Fishing
8:09 p.m.
Officer Tillman responded to Longboat Drive South for a report of a suspicious person. The complainant advised that someone had arrived on a boat and was fishing from the dock. Upon arrival, Officer Tillman spoke with the four men that were fishing from a boat. The fishermen were advised not to fish from the docks. The fisherman were aware of trespassing and stated that at no time did they fish from the docks. Case clear.
Sept. 7
Noise
5:11 a.m.
Officer Tillman responded to the 4300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive for a suspicious incident. According to dispatch, the complainant said that they were hearing banging noises throughout the condominium. Officer Tillman was across the street at St. Mary’s Church when the call came out. No one was seen in the area or at the front door within minutes of the call. The complainant asked Officer Tillman to search the residence and closets. Nothing appeared out of place. Case clear.
Sept. 10
Incident
3:29 a.m.
Officer Mathis was dispatched to the 1600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive about a civil issue. Upon his arrival, Officer Mathis met with the resort staff members and they advised that a guest had paid for the room and left the resort but he additional guests remained in the room that was paid for by the man. The staff speculated that the guest who paid for the room had two call girls meet him at the resort and accompany him to his room. The man further advised that a short time later, the man who was intoxicated, came back downstairs to the lobby and appeared distraught. The staff member followed up by saying that the man was waiting for an Uber to pick him up and take him home. The resort staff did not provide the male guest’s identity. A short time later, the Uber arrived and the man left the resort leaving all of his items in the hotel room and with what the hotel staff insists were the call girls. It is speculated by hotel staff that the man who paid for the room left a briefcase with a firearm inside it. The staff member advised they would contact Longboat Key Police Department if services were needed later. The event happened three hours before the police were contacted. Officer Mathis advised the staff that this was a civil matter. Case clear.
Driver’s license
1:51 p.m.
Officer Troyer while on patrol was alerted to the license plate camera hit at the south end in reference to a blue Ford which was traveling northbound on Gulf of Mexico Drive. The owner had an expired Florida Driver’s license as of July 2, 2023. Officer Troyer confirmed the license was expired with the referenced date. Officer Troyer observed the vehicle pass near Bay Isles Parkway and Gulf of Mexico Drive. Officer Troyer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive. Upon observing the driver, Officer Troyer asked for the man’s driver’s license. Officer Troyer issued the man a criminal citation for driver’s license expired more than six months. Case clear.
Sept. 11
Workers
11:55 a.m.
Officer Troyer while on patrol was dispatched to the 1900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive on a report of two suspicious men walking around a residence. Upon arrival, Officer Troyer spoke with the complainant who reported she was walking in the neighborhood and observed two men walking around residences and felt they were suspicious. The complainant reported one man was wearing an orange shirt and the other man was wearing a blue shirt and were around Fairway Bay. Officer Troyer observed the men at Fairway Bay eating lunch. Officer Troyer spoke with the two men and they reported they were working on the residence at 1900 Fairway Bay. Officer Troyer spoke with the homeowner who informed the officer the men were indeed his employees and he pointed them in the wrong direction of the restroom. Officer Troyer didn’t observe anything suspicious or criminal. Case clear.
Sept. 12
Parking
10:33 a.m.
Officer Miklos was dispatched to the 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive in reference to a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, Officer Miklos came into contact with the complainant who advised the red Jeep was left overnight and is blocking part of the parking lot. Officer Miklos ran the vin and the vehicle returned to a rental company. Officer Miklos advised the complainant that due to the vehicle being left on private property manager can have the vehicle towed. Case clear.
Construction
8:15 p.m.
Sgt. Martinson while on patrol, observed two FPL trucks parked along Gulf of Mexico Drive and then observed two unknown work style trucks drive out from the driveway and turn southbound on Gulf of Mexico Drive. Sgt. Martinson made contact with the FPL foreman in charge. The foreman said that he and his crew arrived at the property at approximately 3:30 p.m. and were there to assist the contractors and tap power lines from the house under construction into the transformer. The foreman said they ran into numerous problems and when he informed his boss he was told that they had to finish the job. The foreman stated while his FPL crew along with the help of the contractors were working the neighbor came over and started harassing them for working past 5 p.m. the foreman stated he tried to explain the situation to the neighbor but they would not listen. The foreman stated the harassing was so bad that once the wire liens were made safe he just decided to come back to finish the job. Sgt. Martinson spoke with the complainant who did not provide his name and began yelling at Sgt. Martinson about the construction going on past 5 p.m. Sgt. Martinson tried to explain to the complainant that FPL needed to work past 5 p.m. because the power lines were not safe. The complainant told Sgt. Martinson that he needed to give citations to the contractors but since they were working under the umbrella of FPL and needed to stay past 5 p.m. to assist FPL to make the wires safe, and Sgt. Martinson told the complainant that he would not be giving them citations. At this point the complainant demanded the officer’s name and then walked away once it was given. Case clear.
