Adam Linhardt, Public Information Officer for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s been going on in the county.
Lobster mini season is coming up, but a Sebring, Florida man arrested just yesterday, was charged with a litany of lobster related violations off Cudjoe Key.
Linhardt said, “This weekend was I think, a good indicator of, normally, the weeks, the weekends leading up to mini season, unfortunately. We like to, hopefully every year, knock on wood, see things improve a little bit. But this year was like many others in that we had a lot of wildlife cases, a lot of traffic on the road. A lot of boats on the road, traffic on the road. Obviously, a lot of boats on the water as well. And a lot of people out getting ready for lobster. They get out there, they check their spots, and they just can’t help but take a few early. In that case, off of Cudjoe Key yesterday, one of many over the weekend where somebody just went a little crazy out of hand, that person was actually arrested. Young man, 21 years old, because he was also spearing the lobster. He had a lot of out of season, obviously, but also undersized as well as over the limit. So he was doing everything wrong out there. There’s also a lot of fin fish violations as well. So hopefully this isn’t any indicator of how the rest of the week’s going to go, but unfortunately, a lot of times it is, and it’s just what happens when we get this many visitors in the Keys.”
The FWC website is a great resource to find out the do’s and don’ts for lobster season.
Linhardt said, “Oftentimes, that means giving somebody a mandatory notice to appear in court citation, which is actually an arrest, but you don’t actually have to go to jail. You do have to go to court, however, so it’s a little bit easier on people, but some of these cases that are just very egregious, we had people from South Florida who obviously should have known the rules if they didn’t know the rules already. The big thing this week for everybody, we tell everybody, especially folks who live here, now is not a good week to forget to bring your diver down flag. Now is not a good week to forget to bring your measuring device on the boat, because we are going to be out there checking and citing people. Have that flag up and again, have it up at the highest point on your boat. It’s one thing to have your flag out and visible, but if it’s not on the highest part of the boat, people might not be able to see it. You could be liable as far as a civil citation for that, as well as having your measuring device. I think a lot of local people think they can eyeball lobster. They don’t take any that looks too small, just the big ones. But the law, you’ve got to have that measuring device with you. This week, we hope all week, all times of the year, you would do these sorts of things, and just take care of yourself and make sure that you’re legal. But this week, especially now, it’s not a time to think you’re going to get away with anything or pull a fast one on anybody, because we’re out there in force, along with our partners with the FWC.”
There were a number of gun incidents over the past few days. A 49 year old woman from Georgia was arrested Sunday after displaying a handgun at a Stock Island hotel pool.
Linhardt said, “A woman who’s intoxicated for whatever reason, she’s by the pool there at the hotel, and for whatever reason she thinks that’s a good time to display this firearm. She takes the gun out of her purse, is waving it around, and folks who are there obviously are not impressed and are fearful enough of maybe for not only their safety, but this woman’s safety that they called us. We showed up Find the weapon, secured it. She took a ride to jail, was also charged with disorderly conduct as well. So obviously, too much to drink. This is another great case of if you’re drinking, not a good time to mess with firearms, not a good time to get behind the wheel. I mean, these are all things that we used to think were common sense, but we just keep reminding people, in her case, was a fine example. It doesn’t sound like her intentions were malignant or that she was trying to hurt anybody. Just made a poor decision and did something that she shouldn’t have done that I’m sure she regrets now, but at the time, put a lot of people in danger, including herself.”
The other firearms case was a 40 caliber Glock brandished during a road rage incident in Tavernier. That person was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of synthetic THC, possession of drug paraphernalia, in addition to aggravated assault and having displayed a firearm.
Linhardt said, “The suspect in this case had over eight grams of crystal meth on them, as well as synthetic marijuana, I believe, in the form of like a vape pen and synthetic THC, that sort of stuff. One thing leads to another on the road, another case where it doesn’t sound like the suspect in this case actually pointed the gun at anybody, or was making an overt verbal threat with the weapon. But again, you cannot display, pull out a weapon when you’re at the pool, at the bar, these are things that people, I think, in retrospect, know. Here’s the case where you had emotions are running high. You’re on the road, people are upset. You pull a gun out. Maybe you didn’t make a verbal threat or pointed it at somebody, but the fact that you displayed that weapon, and putting other people’s lives at risk, that’s also obviously, in this case, aggravated assault, so a serious charge, and all that notwithstanding how much those methamphetamines and narcotics that was also in this suspect’s possession. How much of that played a role this incident? Hard to say right now, but I’m sure the State Attorney’s Office is going to cipher all that out. Luckily, in both these cases, no one was hurt, no firearms were discharged. But again, this is the week when a lot of people are in town. Everybody, just take it easy, be patient, give yourself some time, and it’s a good week to lay off the alcohol a little bit and just use some common sense.”
A trespassing call happened around 1 a.m. and sheriff’s deputies found the perpetrator on the property still holding rocks that he was using to try to break into an Islamorada residence.
Lindhardt said, “As the sheriff’s Public Information Person, I’m always trying to advertise these cases where I can to let folks know, hey, we take these cases seriously. We investigate them. It may not sound like much unless you’re the victim in this case, or a neighbor of the victim, then it is a big deal, and these kinds of cases should concern everybody, and I think for the most part, they do. This is a case where an attempted burglar was trying to break into somebody’s residence. He was using heavy rocks and things like that to attempt to destroy the front door, essentially to get through the front door, was not successful, luckily, but he caused about 600 bucks worth of damage to the front door and the effort of trying to get inside, he was also already up to no good down there taking things. Who knows what his overall intentions were, and obviously was trying to do some no good, was up to no good. We hate to see these kinds of cases any time of the year, but they’re a little bit more of a headache this week, when we have so much other things going on. But hey, that’s the job. Let’s just hope everybody this week and for the rest of the year going forward, takes it easy, be a little patient, and remember to be safe. Please, if there is an issue, call us. Call 911, don’t try to handle an issue yourself, particularly when it involves somebody with a firearm, somebody trying to break into your break into your home, or an incident along the highway.”
National Night Out is coming up next week.
Linhardt said, “Take a look at our Facebook page, as well as Key West police social media pages. We’re going to have family fun events at Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Key West. That’s going to be August 5, I think about 5:30 to 7:30, free hot dogs and hamburgers. A lot of displays. You can take a look at our bomb squad stuff, or SWAT teams. All our friends and neighbors in law enforcement, our Coast Guard and FWC or highway patrol friends, a great time to come out, bring the kids with you, talk to the officers that patrol your neighborhood, talk to the deputies that that they may be working in your child’s school. It’s just going to be a good time. That’s next week, and we hope to see everybody there.”