—Sept. 12
—The Phantom Plumber
—10:33 a.m.
—Officer Van Dyke responded to St. Judes Drive in reference to a traffic crash with property damage. Upon arrival, Officer Van Dyke observed a damaged backflow preventer with water spraying toward the residence approximately ten feet in length. A tire mark leading to the backflow preventer was observed in the shell scattered throughout the front yard. Officer Van Dyke was unable to determine the direction of travel. The homeowner was aware of the incident, his agent notified him before contacting law enforcement. According to the complainant, the crash likely occurred between 10:42 a.m. and 10:53 a.m. The complainant said no video footage is available from the Ring doorbell. The residence directly across the street has a Ring doorbell but no occupants were home neither did they answer the doorbell. Officer Van Dyke canvassed the area in search of a vehicle with damage near the bottom of the vehicle consistent with the backflow preventer, yielding negative results. Officer Van Dyke canvassed the area in search of a vehicle with damage near the bottom of the vehicle consistent with the backflow preventer, yielding negative results. No witnesses, driver/vehicle descriptions or direction of travel were able to be ascertained. The complainant was provided a case number, and a traffic crash form was completed. Public Works was notified to respond in an effort to shut off the water pressure. Leaving the scene of a traffic crash with property damage is a misdemeanor under Florida Statute, therefore the case will remain open, pending further investigation. Case clear.
—One Headlight, Zero Licenses
—8:08 p.m.
—Officer Troyer while on patrol, observed a silver Toyota Corolla pass him driving southbound on Gulf of Mexico Drive. He observed the vehicle’s passenger headlight was defective and there was no illumination coming from the headlight bulb. The only light emitting was from the daytime running light. Officer Troyer conducted a traffic stop on the car in the 6800 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive and introduced himself to the driver and explained the reason for the stop. The driver did not speak English, and Officer Troyer asked the driver for a license, which he said he didn’t have and presented a Mexican passport to identify himself. There was a small child in the back passenger seat of the vehicle not wearing a seatbelt. Officer Troyer walked back to his vehicle and conducted a warrants and license check for the driver. Officer Troyer did not locate any license for the driver and the driver said he would be able to get a licensed driver to come drive him. Officer Troyer had the driver move the vehicle to a nearby parking lot so the officer could process the traffic stop. Once completed with the processing of paperwork, the driver explained he couldn’t locate anyone to assist him with removing the vehicle. The driver indicated he was staying at a resort on Longboat Key. The driver did not know the name of the resort nor did he know the address. The driver finally contacted his friend who was able to provide the officer with the address and name of the resort. Officer Troyer explained to the driver, due to him not being licensed and unable to contact a licensed operator, his vehicle would be towed. Officer Troyer contacted the Sarasota County Dispatch Center and requested the vehicle be towed. Officer Troyer inventoried the vehicle and completed the tow sheet and the towing company responded and removed the vehicle. Officer Troyer spoke with the driver and he agreed to be given a ride to the resort. Officer Troyer found probable cause to believe the driver was in violation of Driving With No License. Case clear.
—Sept. 14
Georgia Peach of a Porsche
—9:54 a.m.
—Officer Zunz met with the complainant in the police department for assistance with a Vin verification on a 1989 Porsche 911 convertible with a Georgia temporary tag. She advised the vehicle had belonged to her father in Georgia and she wished to title and register it to her Longboat Key address. Officer Zunz ran the Vin for wants and warrants with a negative result before stamping her DMV form. Case clear.
—Sept. 15
—All Quiet on the Construction Front
—3:15 a.m.
—Officer Castro Agis while on patrol in the 6300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive when he saw a white Jeep Cherokee parked in an empty lot. The vehicle was unoccupied and contained various construction equipment. It was parked near a residence currently under construction. A registration check revealed the owner who was based in Venice. Officer Castro Agis canvassed the construction site and surrounding area with negative results. The residence under construction appeared secure and undisturbed. Case clear.
—Girlfriend Takes the Wheel
—7:52 p.m.
—Officer Castro Agis received an alert from a license plate reader regarding a black Audi. The alert indicated that the registered owner’s license was suspended. As a vehicle passed the officer, Officer Castro Agis observed that the driver matched the registered owner’s description. Officer Castro Agis then initiated a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive. The owner said he was unaware his license was suspended. Officer Castro Agis issued a citation for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. The man’s driver’s license was seized and placed in the Longboat Key Police Department property and evidence room for proper disposal. The man’s driver’s license was suspended on Aug. 11, 2026. The driver was accompanied by his girlfriend who possessed a valid driver’s license. Case clear.
—Sept. 17
—Busted by the Beep
—8:03 a.m.
—Officr Pescuma received a target alert service hit for a license plate image captured from the Longboat Key South site license plate reader camera. The vehicle was traveling northbound and the alert was for an expired tag. Officer Pescuma queried the FCIC/NCIC database and confirmed that the tag expired on May 17, 2026. The vehicle was located and a traffic stop was conducted on a 2014 Gray Nissan. Officer Pescuma made contact with the driver and introduced himself and provided the reason for the traffic stop. Officer Pescuma advised the driver that the tag was expired on May 17, 2026. Officer Pescuma asked the driver for his driver’s license, registration and current proof of insurance. The driver handed the officer a Nicaraguan Identification. Officer Pescuma asked the driver how long he lived in Florida and he said four years. Officer Pescuma conducted a FCIC/NCIC check with her name and date of birth which confirmed he was never issued a driver’s license. The driver said that he was driving to work painting houses on Longboat Key. He was not driving due to an emergency. Officer Pescuma issued a criminal citation of No valid Driver’s License nor was ever issued one. An additional citation was issued for an expired tag less than six months. Officer Pescuma advised that the driver could not drive and he made arrangements for transportation. Case clear.
—The Business Card Shuffle
—10:07 p.m.
—Officer Castro Agis responded to the 7000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive to assist Officer Nazareno with a traffic stop. Upon arrival, Officer Nazareno advised that he had initiated a traffic stop on a Jeep Wrangler after observing the vehicle traveling the wrong direction in the southbound lane of Gulf of Mexico Drive for five blocks. Officer Nazareno further stated he suspected the driver was under the influence, as she exhibited glassy eyes, unsteadiness on her feet, and erratic behavior. Based on the information, Officer Castro Agis initiated a DUI investigation. Officer Castro Agis spoke to the driver and observed glassy eyes and unsteadiness on her feet. The woman’s statements were incoherent from the start of the interaction and she appeared confused and disoriented, stating she did not know her location and was lost. Officer Castro Agis confirmed she was the sole occupant of the vehicle. While speaking with her, Officer Castro Agis detected the odor of alcoholic beverages emanating from her person. The woman admitted to consuming a glass of wine at an undisclosed location in Sarasota. When asked to produce her driver’s license, the driver raised her hands and requested permission to search her vehicle, stating she was scared and did not want to get shot. Officer Castro Agis reassured her and instructed her to locate her driver’s license. She was unable to produce her license after fumbling through her wallet and purse, instead retrieving and subsequently dropping multiple business cards onto the ground and driver’s seat. Officer Castro Agis requested the driver voluntarily submit to standardized field sobriety exercises, which she refused. Based on Officer Castro Agis’ observations, training and experience, he arrested her for Driving Under the Influence. Officer Castro Agis handcuffed her without incident. After her arrest, the woman became belligerent. She was transported to the Holmes Beach Police Department for the administration of a breath alcohol test. During transport, the woman complained that her wrists were bleeding. Manatee County EMS responded to the station and confirmed that the driver was not bleeding and had sustained no injuries. At the police station, Sgt. Betts and Officer Castro Agis, who were present for the breath test. The driver refused to provide a breath sample, Officer Castro Agis read her implied consent but she continued to refuse. Officer Castro Agis then transported her to the Manatee County Jail where custody was transferred to Manatee Sheriff’s Office intake deputies. All arrest paperwork was provided to booking personnel. The driver was charged with DUI Alcohol, refusal to submit breath test, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of divided highway. Case clear.
