Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the county.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office faced a number of incidents in the last few weeks.
A recent arrest involved a 28-year-old Jacksonville woman who deputies said became combative during a domestic disturbance call and ultimately threw a bag containing personal belongings at deputies, striking them.
Ramsay said deputies attempted to give the woman opportunities to cooperate and leave the scene before she escalated the situation.
“She seemed to want to go to jail,” Ramsay said.
According to Ramsay, the woman told deputies she was going to “make you have to do something” before throwing items at them.
“When you are dead set on going to jail, and you make those type of statements, and then you throw items and hit officers with them, you commit a battery,” Ramsay said.
He said alcohol appeared to be a factor and used the incident to warn people about controlling their anger and behavior, particularly during domestic disputes.
“Domestic cases are very dangerous, as we see the suspects turn on officers pretty quickly, and the officers become the subject matter of their attacks,” Ramsay said.
Deputies also arrested a 62-year-old Key Largo man after a delivery driver reported that he had threatened to shoot him.
Ramsay said the delivery driver had apparently gone to the wrong lot at an RV park. The suspect allegedly told the driver to leave or he would shoot him.
Although the delivery driver did not see a firearm, Ramsay said the suspect continued following the driver in his vehicle and attempted to block his exit from the property.
“You can never make threats to shoot somebody,” Ramsay said. “We’re going to take every threat of violence serious, and we’re going to hold people accountable.”
Ramsay also provided an update on a fisherman who was critically injured by lightning while aboard a boat departing from Bud N’ Mary’s Marina near the 80-mile marker.
Ramsay said lightning struck the water next to the boat and apparently traveled through the vessel, striking the captain through the steering wheel. The strike also disabled the boat’s engine.
The captain was initially unresponsive. The Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fire Rescue and other agencies to get the vessel and injured man back to shore.
The man was transported by Trauma Star to a Miami hospital in critical condition. Ramsay said he was later told the man had awakened after spending approximately three days in a coma and that his condition appeared to be improving.
Another serious incident involved a pedestrian who was struck by an SUV in Islamorada around 6:30 a.m. recently.
Ramsay said the female pedestrian was critically injured and transported by Trauma Star to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. The vehicle remained at the scene and the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
Ramsay also highlighted continuing enforcement of Florida’s marine resource laws.
Two people were cited after deputies found them harvesting undersized lobster near Sunshine Key Campground. One person had three undersized lobster, while another had six.
A separate individual was cited for possessing an out-of-season stone crab that also appeared to be undersized.
Ramsay said deputies also arrested a 48-year-old Oklahoma man who was found with six queen conch that he had allegedly harvested near the Sunshine Key area.
Queen conch are protected in Florida and cannot legally be harvested.
“They’re just starting to make a comeback, and we see these people that are just trying to harvest the conchs,” Ramsay said. “Sometimes we see it for the meat, sometimes we see it for the shell.”
Ramsay credited Marine Officer Luis Guiardinu with the enforcement work in the lobster, stone crab and queen conch cases.
The sheriff also highlighted his agency’s participation in a Special Olympics paddleboard competition in Islamorada.
The event at Founders Park brought athletes from 11 Florida counties. Ramsay said the Sheriff’s Office had a large contingent of personnel involved, including deputies who traveled from Key West and marine units that helped provide security for the athletes.
“It was a good, proud day for the sheriff’s office to help honor these athletes and make sure it’s a safe event for all,” Ramsay said.
Ramsay said the event also took a difficult turn when the mother of one of the athletes suffered a heart attack the following day and had to be transported by Trauma Star.
He said the incident was another example of the unpredictable nature of law enforcement and emergency response.
“Whatever comes our way, we’re going to deal with it,” Ramsay said.