The Plant City Times & Observer highlights the best and most bizarre Cops Corners of 2017.
Jan. 13
LIGHT READING
3700 block of Trapnell Ridge Drive.
Vehicle burglary: Complainant stated unknown suspect(s) entered their unlocked Hyundai Sonata between 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, and 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13. The only thing missing was the owner’s manual.
Feb. 26
HIDE AND SEEK
1300 block of South Collins Street.
Petit theft: Officer met with complainant, who stated a known subject had stolen his phone and wallet while he slept on a bus. The subject, a male, stated he did not have the phone or wallet, and a female subject supported the claim. Other witnesses stated that the subjects did, in fact, have the phone and wallet. Following witnesses’ suggestions, the wallet was found hidden in a diaper bag carried by the two subjects, and the phone was found inside one of the female subject’s shoes. The items were returned, and the complainant signed a waiver of prosecution.
March 21
FACEBOOK AND FISTICUFFS
1900 block of East Alsobrook Street.
Simple battery: Officer met with complainant who stated a known female subject had come to her home and started a fight with her. Complainant stated that the fight was caused by a Facebook post involving a baby, and she requested prosecution.
April 29
HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME
1700 block of North Park Road.
Vehicle burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) smashed the rear passenger window of her Nissan Armada SUV and stole a brown Britney Spears purse, valued at $30.
May 17
MORE THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR
210 block of West Alexander Street.
Grand theft auto: Officers met with complainant, who stated a known male subject took her vehicle without permission. The subject had asked to get something from the complainant’s vehicle while she was at work, and he instead took the vehicle to Tampa, picked up his brother, damaged the driver’s side door and brought the vehicle back to Plant City, at the 1400 block of East Alabama Street. Complainant refused to press charges and signed a waiver of prosecution.
June 13
HOW NOW BROWN COW
510 block of East Laura Street.
Petit theft: A man reported several of his possessions were stolen from his unlocked apartment between 4 and 6 a.m. June 12. He told an officer that he had two women — both of whom he knew as “Mickey” — at his apartment and that the three had stayed up late talking. One “Mickey” left his apartment at 3:30 a.m., but the other was still there at 4 a.m. when the man fell asleep. He woke up at 6 a.m. to find his wallet had been moved and its contents, a Social Security card, $5 in cash and an identification card, were missing. His blue Roadstar mountain bike, identifiable by an attached milk carton basket and valued at $500, had been taken from his living room. The man believed the second “Mickey” may have stolen his belongings but only wanted to press charges if he discovered someone else committed the crime.
July 20
HAVING A BALL
1800 block of North Lime Street.
Burglary: Complainant stated unknown suspect(s) entered his screened back porch and stole 20 ball python snakes, valued together at $5,000, between 10 and 11 p.m.
Sept. 2
FINDER’S RETURNERS
100 block of West Ball Street.
Recovered gun: What is lost, it seems, can sometimes be found. Officers responded to a woman who reported her stolen handgun had been found in her mailbox. She told officers she believed a former tenant had returned it but, “happy to have her gun back,” declined to prosecute.
Oct. 30
WHEN THAT HOTLINE BLING
110 block of West Bates Street.
Battery: Officers responded to a reported disturbance at a residence. The complainant stated he and his “new” girlfriend got into an argument during which she threw a cell phone at him. He declined to press charges and signed a waiver of prosecution.
