Only in the Keys

[Bobcat]

Councilwoman attacked outside Islamorada home
BY JOSH GORE Free Press Staff
jgore@keysnews.com
ISLAMORADA -- A Tennessee man wearing just a sweater and underwear attacked a village councilwoman outside her home early Sunday, according to police reports.

At about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 25, Islamorada Vice Mayor Deb Gillis, who owns a local motel and lives on the premises, called deputies to report she had been beat up by a stranger outside her mile marker 82 apartment.

According to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office incident report, Gillis heard a knocking on her downstairs backdoor. When she opened it, she said a man she didn't recognize grabbed her and began beating her with a stick.

"The man stated it was because he loved her and continued beating Gillis," the report reads.

In a struggle, Gillis ripped the sweater off her assailant, whose only other article of clothing was white boxer briefs. It turned out the sweater belonged to Gillis and was likely taken out of her unlocked vehicle.

When deputies arrived, they found William Roberts, 66, not far from the scene, and Gillis identified the man as her attacker.

Roberts, 66, was charged with aggravated battery and burglary, both felonies.

Deputies later found the wooden end to a plunger nearby, a stick similar to what Gillis described as the tool used to beat her.

Gillis suffered an abrasion just above her lip on the left side of her mouth, according to the incident report. She also had a bloody ear as well as discolored bruising above her left eye.

Gillis told the Free Press the police report is accurate and declined further comment.

Mayor Mike Forster, who had spoken with Gillis, said she is recovering from the incident.

"She is doing fine," he said. "She is a little beat up. It was a traumatizing event."

Forster said he believes Roberts was a customer in one of Gillis' units and described him as "out of his mind."

jgore@keysnews.com

[BBB725]

Every day occurrencein the Keys

[Ratickle]

Even with one armed old farts?

[BBB725]

Even with one armed old farts?

We had a bank robbery in Marathon a bunch of years ago, the guy rode up with a bicycle held up the bank, rode off on his bike 1 block to the Greyhound bus stop, got on the bus and left town, got caught in Miami flashing cash

[Ratickle]

Where as you were just caught in Miami flashing?????

[RUNNINHOTRACING163.1]

Better move to a better Key,that ch!t don't happen here in Summerland

[Ratickle]

He must be in the ghetto of the keys.

[Bobcat]

SPCA lets cat out of bag, arrests owner
A woman was jailed Wednesday after police say she punched an animal control officer in the face when he confronted her about carrying her cat in a duffle bag.

Holly Oswalt, 47, who gave police a Key Largo address, faces a misdemeanor charge of battery. She remained jailed Thursday on $2,500 bond.

[Ratickle]

What was wrong with carrying her cat in a duffle bag? Some kind of Keys law?????

[Bobcat]

It's 83 degrees outside, probably a hundred inside of a bag.

[fund razor]

Hopefully she will post bond and be back dancing with the band soon.

[Ratickle]

Hopefully she will post bond and be back dancing with the band soon.

Totally confused on that one!!

[sonicss31]

Better move to a better Key,that ch!t don't happen here in Summerland

Damn, we're neighbors. My place is on Cudjoe.

[fund razor]

Totally confused on that one!!

I guess it was meant for Tim.

[Bobcat]

Police: Woman broke decency law at Duval St. bar
A 39-year-old Key West woman landed in jail after she took matters into her own hands when a Duval Street bar refused her the use of its toilet, police said.

Kara Beth Cohen, who police said is homeless, defecated on the floor of Cowboy Bill's Honky Tonk Saloon, 610½ Duval St. earlier this week, according to a police incident report.

[Ratickle]

Wow, that had to be an interesting( ) sight!

[Bobcat]

Man arrested in flare gun shooting
WISTERIA ISLAND -- A 37-year-old live-aboard resident accused of shooting at another man with a flare gun over an anchoring point was arrested Wednesday, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Jason Vest faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

[Ratickle]

So he shot a flare gun at the guy while he was on a boat? What a dumbass!!!!

[Bobcat]

Police: Naked tourist refused to leave pool
KEY WEST -- A 47-year-old New York man accused of taking off his shorts at Dante's pool bar and refusing to leave was arrested Sunday, according to Key West police.

The man faces charges of trespassing, obstructing an officer and fighting. All are misdemeanors.

The incident occurred at 4:43 p.m. when a manager told police the man was in the pool naked.

Arrest Date: 04/05/2015 Time: 16:47 CAD #: KWPD15OFF001689 Offense #:
Name: LININGER, JONATHAN DoB:12/12/1967 Age:47 Sex:M Race:W
Address: 2 SHERIDAN SQUARE, NEW YORK, NY 10016
Occupation: FURNITURE DESIGN
Arrest Location: 951 CAROLINE ST, KEY WEST
Arresting Officer/Agency: KWPD, - KWPD Bond Amount: $0

Charges:
1 Misdemeanor Count(s) of 810.09.2b - TRESPASSING - FAIL TO LEAVE PROPERTY UPON ORDER BY OWNER
1 Misdemeanor Count(s) of 843.02 - RESIST OFFICER - OBSTRUCT WO VIOLENCE
1 Misdemeanor Count(s) of 877.03 - DISORDERLY CONDUCT - BRAWLING FIGHTING CORRUPT PUBLIC MORAL DECENCY

[Bobcat]

Moron.

Man, 40, injured in dive from pier
BY ADAM LINHARDT Citizen Staff
alinhardt@keysnews.com
A 40-year-old tourist was airlifted to a Miami hospital Thursday night after he jumped head-first into shallow water from a pier at the The Sunset Tiki Bar and Grille at the Galleon Resort and Marina on Front Street, according to Key West police.

Bernard J. Barlow III, of Norwell, Massachusetts, was drinking shortly before 5:30 p.m. when he reportedly put his drink down and ran toward the water, witnesses told police.

"The witnesses stated Barlow then jumped over the ropes next to the tiki bar and jumped into the water head-first," reports say. "The witnesses stated they were in shock and could not believe that Barlow jumped into the shallow water."

There was a very low tide at the time of the incident and Barlow's head hit hard rock, said Key West police officer Steve Torrence. Barlow was complaining that he couldn't feel anything below his neck, Torrence added.

Michael Riggleman, a 64-year-old teacher from Delaware on vacation with his wife and another couple, said one man jumped into the water feet-first and was followed by Barlow, who went "straight down" in about 3 feet of water. Reports state Barlow is 6-foot tall.

Barlow was not moving, but appeared to be semiconscious after the dive, Riggleman said. Reports state he was bleeding from several scratches to his head.

There were about 20 to 25 people at the bar when the incident occurred, Riggleman said.

"He was limp in the water," Riggleman said. "His friend who went in first pulled him to the side. An (off-duty) nurse came down and I heard someone say that he (Barlow) said he couldn't feel anything below his neck."

Police arrived to find the nurse stabilizing Barlow's body so he couldn't move his head.

Riggleman was just arriving to the bar when the first man ran by him, he said.

"They were a couple of guys who were enjoying the day, but how much they had to drink, I don't know," Riggleman said.

Whether Barlow was paralyzed or broke his neck in the jump could not be verified. He was flown from Lower Keys Medical Center to Kendall Regional Medical Center in Miami.

"There's been multiple accidents around the island over the years of people diving off piers and being seriously hurt," Torrence said, adding that often alcohol is involved. "The water is often more shallow than it appears. We locals know it's shallow, but visitors don't always have that knowledge."

Most recently in 2010, a former star college baseball player from Naples, Ryan Duffy, was paralyzed from the neck down after jumping from the pier at The Reach resort, 1435 Simonton St.

alinhardt@keysnews.com