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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)

pixie60
Posted on November 28, 2012 at 12:37am
When did they pass that law? I was in Crystal River, Florida in the 80′s getting my SCUBA certificate from a local dive instructor. In addition to my recreational diver certificate, I also earned a specialty certificate on the wildlife in the area – in particular the manatee. My dive instructor and I petted the manatee, scratched their backs, went for “rides” by hanging on to them, and one manatee in particular liked us so much that he followed us most of the way back to shore (we stopped once to pet him again and he came up to the boat). My dive instructor told me that you must only snorkel or swim with them, no tanks, because they don’t like bubbles, and must let them approach you because some like the attention and some don’t. I am 100% sure we did not “annoy” one single manatee!!!

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twitdit
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 8:22pm
There’s no criminality in this act. First, the relationship was consensual. Second, there seems to be no physical injury nor apparent emotional stress indicated by either involved mammal. What bothers me is how the earlier poster knew that the manatee’s name was “Hugh”. Hmmmm, could mean that he is an accessory before or after the fact??????

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freestaterev
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 2:50pm
…meanwhile, drug cartels smuggle kilos of pure Columbian cocaine through southern Florida…but first we must catch the evil manatee rider. America: 2012.

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izukiddin
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 1:27pm
Which one is the manatee?

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Despiser25
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 11:03am
Our Govt job is to protect the citizenry. Our Govt now protects EVERYTHING but the Citizen. In fact the Govt is doing everything it can to destroy the average Citizen.

This corrupt out of control Govt IS THE ENEMY.

I refuse to pay for this FIAT Govt.

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Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
Posted on November 26, 2012 at 6:56am
They are freaking animals! Animals! They only thing endangered here is common sense. I hate animal rights activist. Think I’ll go shoot a deer this morning.

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- tj1961
  Posted on November 26, 2012 at 11:11am
  Here is some common sense: It is absolute stupidity to harass ANY wild animal….Manatees are an endangered animal.I live near where this happened. If this fool were messing with a bald eagle would you be saying this??? The worse thing that will happen to her is a fine, probation and community service. The jails in Florida have enough trouble finding space for VIOLENT offenders.
  
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