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Crime

Florida Woman Faces 60 Days in Jail After Trying to ‘Ride’ Wild Manatee

Nov. 24, 2012 9:34pm Erica Ritz

Ana Gutierrez Arrested After Trying to Ride Wild Manatee in Florida

(Photo: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office via NBC)

Have you ever tried to pet a wild animal? It’s probably not the safest thing to do, but it could also land you in jail with a hefty fine, it seems.

A 53-year-old Florida woman was arrested at the Sears where she works on Saturday after being photographed in late September playing with– and seemingly trying to “ride”– a wild manatee.

The Tampa Bay Times has the wild background to the story:

A bystander got photographs of a woman perched atop a manatee on Sept. 30, and the case gained attention after law-enforcement officials launched a public campaign several days later to identify her.

Shortly after Sheriff Bob Gualtieri’s Oct. 2 press conference to decry the alleged abuse of the animal, Gutierrez phoned the agency and admitted touching the manatee. She later told sheriff’s deputies she didn’t know that doing so was illegal.

The case was referred to the Pasco-Pinellas State Attorney’s Office, which issued the misdemeanor arrest warrant.

Under the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, sea cow molestation is a second-degree misdemeanor, an offense punishable by a $500 fine or up to 60 days in jail. [Emphasis added]

A 978-pound manatee is shown in this photo provided by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. (AP File Photo)

Yes, there is a “Manatee Sanctuary Act” that, according to NBC News, makes it “unlawful for any person at any time, by any means, or in any manner intentionally or negligently to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb or attempt to molest, harass, or disturb any manatee.”

Less clear is how authorities determine if– by your negligence– you have annoyed a manatee.

Authorities added that the manatee was not physically hurt, but that the “psychological impact” of the encounter would be harder to evaluate, the Tampa Bay Times relates.

During a press conference Sheriff Gualtieri told Gutierrez to “go ride a jet ski.” She has been released from jail on a $1,500 bail.

Here is video of the authorities requesting the public’s help to find Gutierrez in early October, via ABC:

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Comments (176)

HUGHS500
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 4:32am
Someone tell me we are not living in a police state. This is another victim-less crime which has more to do with environmentalist appeasement and Government power than protecting the manatee. If not, then WHY would they go to such length (wasting resources that could be used for more important issues) to find this woman just to give her a ticket. Also, he said it was a class 2 misdemeanor and the person could not be arrested but yet they go to this poor woman’s place of employment and put her in cuffs. Is this what our governments have become? Petty tyrants who aim to control and put fear into the people rather than being servants of the people? I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve had it with the corruption and the theft of our power. Just because it is a law, doesn’t make it right, or legal for that case. We have a Constitution that says otherwise. Thomas Jefferson summed it up best when he proclaimed “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will, within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law’ because LAW IS OFTEN BUT THE TYRANT’S WILL, AND ALWAYS SO WHEN IT VIOLATES THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL. Was it really necessary to pull out all the stops to apprehend her, at work no less? Only if you want to send a message to the people that governing authority has no limitations. And, some (not all) will take every opportunity to demonstrate their resolve, and their contempt for individual Libe

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allotrios
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 1:30am
And you know…that photo actually made me smile. She looked like she was having so much fun.

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allotrios
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 1:26am
You have got to be freaking kidding me. How about leaving PEOPLE alone? Is there a law against annoying people? Maybe it’s HER mating season, leave HER alone. Arresting someone is annoying, harassing, and disturbing, but is she protected? It’s not like she was beating the damn thing, she was playing with it!

That’ll teach me not to sing any children’s songs involving animals – it might be insensitive.

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Pyronaught
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 1:13am
Two months in jail and lost wages for “riding” a manatee? What the hell ever happened to fines? It’s not illegal to touch a manatee, only to “harass” one, whatever the hell that means. From the picture it is not even evident that she is riding it. I’ve seen these things up close while diving and I don’t think you could ride one. Their giant tail would swat you right off, assuming you could even get a hold on the big slippery thing in the first place. This happened in the county I live in. Apparently there must be no REAL crime here and the police are getting bored.

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Man.A.Tee
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 12:23am
I am the Manatee who was victimized by that lady.

It was awful, I just thought she was going to be friendly and maybe talk nice to me. But she started to fondle me and then grabbed onto me like she was a bear or something.

Then she hopped up on me and rode me as if I was a horse or something.

I was traumatized and want justice.

I don’t know what was wrong with that lady but something needs to be done to her.

Maybe I can get a few of my friends together, put her in the middle of us and we will flipper flog her.

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charles116
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 12:20am
If the manatee rode her they could produce a manatelephant.

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Larry E
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 11:14pm
We’ve got some critters in my neck of the woods she could try to ride, and she’d likely not be arrested either unless there were some pretty fast cops around. A grizzly would turn her into lunch, and a buff would just stomp her into the ground. No need for that wasteful court stuff….

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Rightofwayne
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 8:51pm
She might be confused as to which laws we are to respect. Some are ignored and the lawbreakers are rewarded with Social Security, Free Schooling for their children (In Spanish no less), Free healthcare, and ability to vote. How would they know that some laws are actually enforced and which ones to follow? A True American would know that ALL Environmental Laws are enforced, but those concerning illegal aliens are just to be ignored.

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floridacockleburr
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 8:24pm
I think it may be against the law to put those red shorts on that manatee.

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Salamander
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 8:14pm
It’s a good thing that her ‘Manatee’ wasn’t a Great White! Surprise!

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aurora53
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 7:52pm
Another bureaucratic scam to fleece money from the public!

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Leveraction3030
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 7:04pm
I wonder if a shark had attacked and killed them both would the police have posted a video/picture of the shark for ID purposes? Would they have gone to the sharks workplace to arrest it? Hmmm, I wonder if like the women that disgraced Arlington she will lose her job for discracing a Manatee?

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thegodfather
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 5:54pm
Now…again…which one is the manatee, in that picture?.

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ColoradoCassie
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 5:04pm
Let me get this straight. You get fined $500 and a possible 60 day jail sentence for riding a Manatee. BUT! You can kill your unborn baby and no one gives a nostril ****. Seems a little back assward.

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daxbrady
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:55pm
I petted a manatee in 1993 while I was on a diving trip in florida… Wonder if I should turn myself in… LMAO

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Bill1776
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:52pm
More laws less freedom!

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RobbieTLHughie
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:41pm
lol I was so ready for people her to justify someone riding a manatee and blame it on “Gubment control”

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BlasberryStrat
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 4:37pm
Hey…which one is the Manatee??

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FloridaFarmGirl
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:41pm
Will the last native Floridian leaving the state please bring the state flag? Thank you.

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Gomek
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:37pm
I am from the area around where this happened, and it pissed me off way more the way the media and locals reacted than the rider. Granted, it was in bad taste, that’s it! The way everyone down here made it sound was that she jumped on the manatee and started stabbing it! I’m not saying they claimed she assaulted it, but to claim that the poor manatee was harmed and harassed by the whole incident! Give me a break! I’ll bet the manatee probably didn’t realise that she was on top of it! Then, why didn’t it submerg?
Stupid hypocritical Floridians, they claim to love their natural treasures so much, but don’t mind (not all) burying protected species habitats to build a super Wal-mart, etc. I know there’s many who do care, It’s just frustrating.

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- FloridaFarmGirl
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:44pm
  Stupid hypocritical Floridians?? Well, bless your little heart! You just keep being classy and America will continue to be a great place! (Not)!
  
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florida123
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:55pm
Authorities added that the manatee was not physically hurt, but that the “psychological impact” of the encounter would be harder to evaluate, the Tampa Bay Times relates. REALLY????

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Tinanicu
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:38pm
Why don’t they have jail time for women who abuse their unborn children with drug abuse? Sounds more serious than riding a manatee

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Sicialian Eyeball
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:36pm
And the idiots in Fla voted for 0bama,too.

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- FloridaFarmGirl
  Posted on November 25, 2012 at 3:47pm
  No one we know voted for obama. Idiots huh? Thank you for your kind words for my home state. Way to keep it classy.
  
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truthnstuff
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:36pm
She should be fined for going out in public without covering up.

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Realitybytes
Posted on November 25, 2012 at 1:20pm
I don’t see anyone trying to ride it?

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