Featured Image Credit: Bradenton Herald
Earlier this week, a man in Islamorada, FL tried to take a ride on a manatee. This moronic move landed him the Monroe Country Jail. The 47 year-old, James Roy Messengale, refused to cooperate with police and bail was set at $25,000.
The incident was brought to an FWC Officer’s attention on Friday at noon. Responding officer, Courtney Baumgartner, went to the Islamorada Library Beach and saw Messengale in the creek. It is highly illegal to disturb or make contact with wild manatees, and several bystanders made sure to mention this to the defendant. Disregarding the advice, Messengale yelled, “I’m riding it!”
Officer Baumgartner reported seeing the man “reaching for, touching, and lying over top manatees in the creek.” There were two adult manatees and their calves spotted in the water.
The defendant became “verbally combative” and repeatedly denied being warned about the protection of the marine mammals by local witnesses. “A short time later, [Massengale] changed his story and admitted he did talk to the witness, but ‘wasn’t going to stop until someone with a badge’ told him to,” reported Bobby Dube, an FWC officer and agency spokesman.