DUI on a Golf Cart, and the Suspect Growled at Cops, and much, much more

Parks Thornton Terry

Parks Terry, of St. Louis, Missouri, got WAY out of control on his recent Florida Keys vacation. It started out pretty typically: he had too much to drink and passed out in his vehicle. Being that he was on vacation in Key Largo, his vehicle was a golf cart. He was in town visiting his elderly mother. When he was awoken by a public safety officer, he drove off on the cart, weaving all over the road, first waving at the officer, and then flipping him off. It went downhill from there.

Terry got back to his mom’s house and locked the door. One of the public safety officers tried to force his way into the house, and Terry’s mother barricaded the door by leaning up against it, while Terry laid down and pushed it with his feet. Another officer entered through another door, and was attacked by Terry. As more officers and deputies responded, they ultimately attempted to taser Terry, who grabbed the stun gun. Deputies say that he was tacked, and growled at them like a dog, while rubbing his face on broken glass on the floor.

It several people to finally cuff Terry. They carried him out and placed him in the back of the patrol car, where he continued to lash out. He kicked the door and broke the handle and the window switch. He yelled obscenities at the deputy the whole ride to the substation, which was on a whole other island, Plantation Key, some 40 minutes or more away, with a pit stop at the hospital. Deputies report Terry suffered a dislocated shoulder at some point during the altercation. He is facing charges for Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting with Violence, Fleeing, Criminal Mischief, and a DUI. All of those except the DUI are felonies.

It appears that the officers other than the deputies may be sworn officers. If they are merely security officers privately employed, Terry’s aggression toward them would not be protected like the deputies’. For instance, battery on a security guard wouldn’t qualify for the law enforcement enhancement, and fleeing is only a crime if a vehicle flees a sworn law enforcement officer. They may be sworn officers, but it’s uncertain. The DUI and fleeing charges can occur in any vehicle, so it would not be a defense for Terry that he was driving a golf cart, as we’ve seen before. Even if it was a sweet red custom job-golf cart! This appears to be the first DUI we’ve covered on a golf cart… congrats, Terry!

Hopefully some pictures and/or video will come out from this incident, and we’ll be sure to share them here.

Dude Busted Driving a Backhoe down 7-Mile Bridge in the Keys

While it (obvioiusly) happened in Florida, it was apparently a Wisconsin man that was arrested after leading officers on a low-speed chase on the seven mile bridge driving a backhoe. Poorly. 59-year old Carl Blahnik was carrying a Wisconsin ID when he was arrested, but authorities believe he had decamped to Florida, and was homeless in the Keys. Deputies pursued and ultimately arrested him for multiple charges after deploying stop sticks to deflate the tires of the backhoe. And the Monroe County Sheriff was nice enough to post the video online!

He drove around on the bridge for an hour and a half, doing all sorts of damage, and effectively shutting the only roadway to the southern keys. Alas, no DUI charges for the backhoe… no indication from the story why; other than to suggest a bizarre joyride.

Has FWC Been Lying to US About Alligator Harassment Laws?

• The Haligator, Hal Kreitman, the Alligator Whisperer, arrested
• FWC is misrepresenting the law regarding alligator harassment
• The Alligator Whisperer should not be facing a felony

Alligator Warning Sign

FWC, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comission, has been telling everyone for years that it is illegal to harass alligators, Florida’s official state reptile. Signs like the one on the left warn people against feeding or molesting (which means to bother them, not in a sexual context). So it came as no surprise a week or so ago when FWC arrested Hal Kreitman, the “Haligator”, the self-proclaimed ‘Alligator Whistperer’ for “harassment of a protected species” according to their press release on Facebook. However, after a review of the laws related to Alligator protection; I’m not sure that FWC is right about the charges they have leveled.

Hal “Haligator” Kreitman, courtesy FWC

Who is the Alligator Whisperer? According to a profile by Kyle Swenson of the new times, “Florida’s Best Alligator Whisperer is a Sex-Partying, Bodybuilding Felonious Chiropractor.” Having been convicted of multiple counts of fraud related to an insurance-fraud scheme at the chiropractor’s office where he worked, Mr. Kreitman was in a low place when he ventured out into the Everglades and decided to get close to alligators. He started interacting with them, and then began advertising an “Alligator Experience“, where he would take tourists out into the Everglades for an exceptionally close encounter with wildlife. Unfortunately for him, the ads and media coverage caught FWC’s attention, and he was arrested after an undercover operation, as documented by the local CBS affiliate.

Kreitman has been charged, among other things, with a felony, under the statute prohibiting “Illegal killing, possessing, or capturing of alligators…” Here’s the problem… he did not kill, injure, possess, or capture any alligators, nor attempt to do so. FWC thinks that “harrasing” alligators is a crime, but it’s not according to the statutes. FWC claims in its “case of the week” press release that interacting with alligators “in this manner in the wild is considered harassment of a protected species, and it is illegal under Florida Statute.” Except, it’s not. The law does not say what FWC claims it says. The statute is written to prevent poaching of alligators, at no point does it say anything about the “harassment” of alligators. The FWC wants the law to read how they interpret it, but the plain language does not prohibit interacting with alligators, and the State has improperly charged Mr, Kreitman with a felony. The FWC is wrong, and they have been misleading us the whole time.

There is a separate law against feeding alligators, or enticing them with food. So far I haven’t read any news reports that indicate that anyone saw the alligators being fed. Reports indicate that a quantity of raw meat was found in Mr. Kreitman’s vehicle, though Mr. Kreitman has indicated on his Alligator Experience Facebook page that there was no warrant when the vehicle was searched. Another violation of Mr. Kreitman’s rights by FWC, who apparently is not that up to speed on either the alligator statutes or the Constitution. The feeding alligator charge is only a second degree misdemeanor, the lowest level of criminal offense… much less serious than a felony.

Haligator in Action, via his Facebook page

Mr. Kreitman has apparently responded on his Facebook page, “if there’s anybody that thinks I did anything wrong legally or not please express your opinion. FWC keep your dukes up because we’re going to have a fight and you’re going to lose you drummed upl malicious charges. intent to kill capture or possess an alligator and or its eggs you have nothing to charge me laugh but make up one charge give me an ROR on that and laughed at it too..you don’t realize I’m doing good out there but I can’t wait to see you in court so I know you’re reading this I love how you said you had an intense sting operation I was expecting you you didn’t think I knew that girl that called me wasn’t one of you.”

The government has sought to revoke Mr. Kreitman’s bond based on the charges, but according to his attorney, Ed Salantrie, the judge has not revoked it at this time. Kreitman also spoke to Sky News, and denied doing anything wrong. Even Good Morning America has gotten in on the story. After reading the felony statute, and not the FWC ‘company line’ claim that harassment is a crime, I have to disagree with FWC. The felony charge appears to be wrongly filed.

For more info:

• check out the original bio: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2014/10/hal_kreitman_is_having_a.php
• Definitely read and watch the CBS story: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/10/31/journey-into-the-everglades-with-the-alligator-whisperer/
• And Mr. Kreitman, the Haligator, has been updating responses on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gatorexpierence
• The FWC has resources, but check out the actual alligator statutes, which FWC has conveniently compiled here: http://myfwc.com/media/1531908/alligator_rules_booklet.pdf

Now, even though the law may not prohibit interacting with alligators, it is still a bad idea. When alligators lose their fear of humans, they are more likely to approach, and become more dangerous. The next person who comes along could be more likely to be attacked, it might be some kid, and the alligator could end up being destroyed. Also, alligators are dangerous and you could lose a body part, or as they say on Gator Boys, you “could be consumed (consumed means eaten.)” Please enjoy our wildlife at a distance.