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.
It’s important to keep an eye out for waterspouts. They can develop quickly in the Florida Keys and, while most remain over the water, they can become dangerous if they make landfall.
“When they do make landfall, it’s a tornado,” Sheriff Ramsay said. “They can be super destructive, so they’ve got to really be careful about those.”
Sheriff Ramsay also discussed a recent discovery of suspected cocaine in Summerland Key.
A resident reported finding a kilo, or approximately 2.2 pounds, of suspected cocaine floating at a dock. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office responded, and the drugs were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol.
Sheriff Ramsay said the discovery is another example of the ongoing mystery surrounding the amount of drugs that make their way into the Florida Keys.
“We see them offshore, but we also see them on beach lines,” Sheriff Ramsay said. “We also see them like this behind someone’s house, right in the canal.”
Law enforcement receives frequent questions about how much drugs are entering the Keys, how much is being intercepted and how much is being turned over by members of the public.
“It continues to keep the mystery of drug smuggling in the Keys alive,” Sheriff Ramsay said.
He urged people who discover suspected drugs to turn them over to law enforcement.
“We’re always thankful when people do turn it in,” Sheriff Ramsay said, noting that authorities have also encountered crimes stemming from drugs that were taken ashore and attempts to sell them.
Sheriff Ramsay also provided an update on a Sept. 17 crash in which a vehicle went through the front doors of the Dollar Tree store in Marathon.
He said a 72-year-old woman was attempting to park when she accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake.
“She went over the curb, through the front glass doors, into the store, past the checkout, and wound up being about the middle of the store,” Sheriff Ramsay said.
The vehicle knocked down several aisles and shelving units before coming to a stop.
Sheriff Ramsay said the most important part of the incident was that no one was seriously injured.
“Someone could have gotten killed in this one,” he said. “It was so, so lucky that it was just property damage.”
Sheriff Ramsay also discussed a recent arrest involving a 20-year-old man who allegedly returned to a Marathon residence with a handgun after being kicked out following an argument.
Sheriff Ramsay said the man had been drinking heavily, became aggressive and was asked to leave. According to Sheriff Ramsay, the man returned to the residence armed with a handgun, forced his way inside and pointed the weapon at people there.
Those inside were eventually able to take the gun away from him and hold him until deputies arrived.
Sheriff Ramsay said the incident is another example of what he described as an alcohol-influenced decision.
“If you can’t hold your alcohol, don’t drink it,” Sheriff Ramsay said. “Know your limitations.”
Decisions made while extremely intoxicated can have serious consequences.
“They’re likely to be poor decisions, which could be life-altering,” Sheriff Ramsay said.
With Fantasy Fest approaching, Sheriff Ramsay said the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is already working with the Key West Police Department to prepare for the week-long event.
“We’re already starting to get our plans in place,” Sheriff Ramsay said. “We’re already starting to advertise overtime details to try to get the manpower ready.”
Fantasy Fest requires significant staffing and cooperation among multiple law enforcement agencies.
“That’s a full court press. That’s all hands on deck to make sure the event goes off smoothly,” Sheriff Ramsay said.
He said the sheriff’s office will work closely with Key West police to provide additional resources and help ensure the events are conducted safely.
Sheriff Ramsay also highlighted the sheriff’s office’s community cleanup efforts.
He said deputies recently cleaned up trash near the south end of the Long Key Bridge and have additional cleanups planned near U.S. 1 in Boca Chica and the Channel Two Bridge in the Islamorada area.
“We continue to try to be a driving force to focus on our mission to keep our Keys clean and safe, whether it be graffiti-free or whether it be trash-free,” Sheriff Ramsay said.
He said the cleanup efforts are part of the department’s broader quality-of-life work.
“I know that clean communities are safer communities,” Sheriff Ramsay said. “I want our citizens and visitors alike to have a beautiful place to live, work and play.”