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May 18 theft A kayak and oar were stolen from the victim’s dock on the canal. There were no reported witnesses and it is unknown whether the crime was committed by boat or someone on the roadway. May 22 grand theft The complainant reported that his unlocked bicycle was stolen from underneath his condominium unit. […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney, SarasotaNewsLeader.com A 15-year-old North Port resident was arrested following a shooting just after 11:30 p.m. on May 7 in the Siesta Public Beach parking lot, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office reported. The shooter was taken into custody just after 3 a.m. on May 8 at the Sheriff’s Office headquarters on Cattleridge […]
During a recent Facebook Live interview, Sarasota County Fire Chief Michael Regnier talked with Media Relations Officer Sara Nealeigh about the progress on the new Fire Station 13, which is under construction next to Siesta Public Beach. “We’re about 90% complete,” Regnier said of the project, which began about 10 months ago. The crews have […]
March crime, visitor stats similar between 2019 and 2021 Having heard from Siesta residents who believe crime is rising on the Key, Kaitlyn Perez, community affairs director for the Sheriff’s Office, was asked for some comparison data. During the April 1 meeting of the Siesta Key Association, Sgt. Arik Smith, leader of the Sheriff’s Office […]
April 18 drug possession In a gas station parking lot, an officer noticed a female quickly exit her vehicle, which was also occupied by two males. The officer’s partner offered to give the female a ride while the officer made contact with the two other people in the vehicle. After receiving consent from the female […]
By Rachel Brown Hackney, SarasotaNewsLeader.com After a thorough investigation into the applicable laws, Sgt. Arik Smith, leader of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office substation on Siesta Key, has determined that electric bicycles are not permitted on the county’s beaches. If someone is pedaling such a bicycle it is allowed, because then the bike is not […]
Some residents are complaining that customers of Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar and the Crescent Club, businesses just south of the intersection of Midnight Pass and Stickney Point roads, are impeding bicyclists and pedestrians. Said Siesta Key Association president Catherine Luckner to Sgt. Arik Smith, leader of the Sheriff’s Office’s substation on the Key, […]
March 7 identity theft Complainant reported that an unidentified suspect used her name, social security number and other personal information to apply for Illinois unemployment benefits. The suspect used complainant’s son’s Illinois address for the claim, and complainant became aware of the fraud when her son received a letter from the Illinois unemployment office regarding […]
As traffic congestion has worsened on Siesta Key in recent years, residents have voiced elevated worries about whether the Sarasota County Fire Department is able to get its vehicles to emergencies in a timely fashion. Photos provided by residents since the tourist season began this year have shown both fire trucks and rescue vehicles that […]
A large area of burnt dune vegetation is the result of a March 20 fire that neighbors fear is the byproduct of parties at Siesta Key’s Beach Access 7. (photo by John Morton) By John Morton Dune vegetation caught fire the night of Saturday, March 20 adjacent to Beach Access 7 on Siesta Key, leaving […]