The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is warning all citizens, but business owners and managers in particular, about three suspicious incidents that recently occurred and are under investigation.

In each case, a suspect called local restaurants claiming to be a police officer reporting that another manager was under arrest. The caller claimed that he needed to set up a meeting place to receive bond money so the manager in custody could be released from jail.

To be clear, it is not a law enforcement practice to contact someone on behalf of an arrestee to arrange bond. In addition, bond would only be arranged at the jail or with a licensed bail agent at their office.

Under Florida law, the person or persons perpetrating this crime can be charged with Falsely Personating an Officer, a third degree felony or more, depending on the circumstances of the crime.

Anyone with information about this or similar crimes is encouraged to call Criminal Investigations at 941-861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477), or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com or via text message by texting TIP109 plus a message to CRIMES (274637).