FWC Busts Man Attempting To Steal Sea Turtle
By FWC // May 13, 2014
Man Charged With Possession Of A Protected Species
EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is information from FWC regarding a recent arrest involving illegal possession of a sea turtle.
CAPE CORAL FLORIDA — A concerned citizen saw a man catch a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle at a park in Cape Coral and try to keep the protected species.
After approaching the man and letting him know it was illegal to keep the animal, he saw the man tie the turtle up and put it in a cooler in his van.
The citizen called the FWC and reported what he had seen. FWC Officers Matthew Raczek and Arthur Morrow were able to respond to the area within a few minutes and found the turtle before the man left the park. The man was arrested for possession of a protected species and taken to the Lee County Jail. The turtle was released alive and unharmed.
You can help too –if you witness any violations of fish, wildlife or boating laws, call FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922 or text Tip@MyFWC.com.
