Manatee Rider Turns Herself In
Ana Gloria Garcia Gutierrez claimed that she didn't realize riding a manatee is illegal.
A woman caught in photos riding a manatee at Fort De Soto Park turned herself in Tuesday, after the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office launched a high-profile search for her.
Ana Gloria Garcia Gutierrez, 52, called into the Pinellas County Communications Center Tuesday afternoon to say that she was the woman seen in photographs riding an endangered manatee. The photos appeared on television and were posted to online news sites, including Patch.
Deputies met Gutierrez at her St. Petersburg home Tuesday afternoon, where she claimed she was new to the area and didn't realize it was illegal to touch sea cows.
The mammals are more commonly seen this time of year because it is their breeding season, where they head to shallower waters to mate.
The deputies explained to her the laws protecting manatees and possible consequences.
Gutierrez's charges will be brought to the State Attorney's office for prosecution.
Gutierrez was not arrested due to the crime not happening in the presence of a deputy.
It is against the law to touch manatees, which are listed as endangered by the state and federal governments.
According to the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, it is unlawful for any person to intentionally or negligently disturb a manatee in any way. Violations are considered second degree misdemeanors.
Beach goers who saw Gutierrez astride a manatee had summoned park rangers, who contacted deputies. By the time they arrived, Gutierrez had dropped out of sight.
CJ
10:46 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The woman did the right thing and turned herself in and evidently has been respectful. She did no harm, was not aware she was doing any harm, and does not pose a threat to ever do this again. Leave the woman alone.
Leigh Armstrong
12:05 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Matt Roch
Read our terms of use. Please refrain from profanity. I've taken out the cursing and reposted your comment below.
She is ignorant and need to pay for that. She should have left the MANATEE alone. That is what she should have done.
Kathleen McAlister
5:32 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Turning yourself in and telling the truth is almost an act of God. Took a newcomer to our state to demonstrate responsibility of this nature.
Tony T
6:15 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Mr. Armstrong,
Is it the policy of the Patch to edit comments by "taken out the cursing" if so what other editing does the Patch do and are the readers notified when it is done? And what would casue one commet to be edited and one to be removed?
Leigh Armstrong
7:06 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Tony T
The policy is to remove the comments. I'm trying to explain why the comments are removed, as well as repost the comments without the offending material. You can read more about what would be considered questionable content in our terms of use.
Janet
3:52 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012
CJ, you are so off base with your comments, so I am curious as to how old you are.
1st of all, yes, she did "finally" come forward but not out of respect. If she had any respect for this manatee, she would not have been riding it in the 1st place. 2nd, I have been in the same area, swimming the same waters many, many times times
over the years with this magnificent creature. NEVER would i attempt to get within petting range. Have you ever been up close & personal with a manatee to witness the many horrible boat propeller scars they have on their backs? All this because of people such as these woman thinking they are allowed to make their own rules to do their own thing, never giving a thought as to what they are doing? Manatees are so gentle, trusting and very slow so it is easy to approach one. Let's try to save these
gentle giants - LEAVE THEM ALONE.
Michael J. Kovac
11:19 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Sixty hrs of community service at ft desoto park will bring her up to speed with laws , rules And regs of Florida State parks!
Matt Roch
12:03 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I agree
Swiffer Wet Jet
11:22 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
If anyone actually pursues pressing formal charges, they need a life. If she did anything besides embarrass herself, she brought more attention to others of the status of manatees and their plight. Now move along.........
Matt Roch
12:05 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The law says that it is ILLEGAL to touch manatees. What part of that do you not get ?
Michael D.
12:28 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Laws say it is illegal to speed. Florida law says it's illegal to fart in public after 6pm on Thursdays. So we need to use some common sense with them. I do not think ignorance of a law is a defense, but really who did she hurt.
Janet
3:56 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012
Once again, another ignorant comment. Have you lived your life here in Clearwater?
I have and I hope to have many more years. I strongly believe there are some who move in to our state without ever giving our own wildlife a thought. How did you treat the wildlife in your state, Miss Swifter?
Goin' Commando
12:05 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Yup!
Janet
3:57 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012
She put the manatee in danger. People, think thru as to what you are saying.
Jeanne Hyatt
4:20 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I've lived here on and off since 1968 and I wasn't aware of such laws. Although I could not see myself entering the water where manatees were swimming, if I had happened upon a manatee while swimming, I probably would have touched one, if it did not appear the animal was fearful of me. Now that this has been brought to my attention I am aware of the laws against touching manatees and I am sure had this woman known of these laws she would not have, either. Advertise the laws more but do not charge this woman of a crime she never knew she was committing. Not even community service.
Matt Roch
12:07 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
They have signs everywhere warning people about the animals.
rwnox
6:01 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Did you not read FEDERAL Govt. as well? New to the area or not, my 7 year old even knows it's against the law! She seemed to know enough of what wild animal it was to co-mingle with it!!! Slap on the hands is only going to show our leniency against this LAW!! Think of our tourism ! Vacationers could say the same thing! Why pay for Sea World when you can ride a manatees? Softy people need to grow thicker skin!
Leigh Armstrong
11:47 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Uncle Bob,
Check out our terms of use. I'm reposting your comment below with out the cursing.
Ya, jail time, that will solve the problem. Those manatee molesters. We should give them the chair. Community service is a wonderful sollution, we don't have to pay the cost of three meals a day and linen and we get 2 hand picking up trash in our parks.
Matt Roch
12:08 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
That's right
rwnox
6:04 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Slap on the hands is only going to show our leniency against the state & federal law!! Think of our tourism ! Vacationers could say the same thing!
Kayak Kurt
7:21 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Most people don't know the dangers of swimming with manatee, I DO! Learn about it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RzNEfI4fiM&list=UUmr2P3Iitste5Me6rpeUAYg&index=5&feature=plcp
Gary Huckleberry
8:11 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Let the manatee ride her and call it even!
Matt Roch
12:09 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Not funny.
Lori
9:07 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I am ALL for protecting ALL mammals (animals)...from harm...BUT we have people dying everyday in this community from drug overdoses due to unscrupulous drs and dealers that the LEO can't get off the streets and we are going to refer this on to the SA for prosectution!? Another WASTE of $$$ in this county. M. Kovac has it right...and so does Gary :) Jeanne I have lived here for 20+ years and I never knew of this either...
Tina Marie
9:23 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
FL laws are way too slack on drug dealers and the like. They need to take a lesson from their brothers up North and inact the 3 strike rule.
On that note, (Not wanting to threadjack) the problem I see with alot of people around here is that they are quick to complain but very seldom call LEO, or exercise any action to solve the drug problems whatsoever. But again... This is a totally diff subject, lets stick to Manatees.
Matt Roch
12:12 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Maybe you should ready more about the laws and complaint less about the people using drugs. If they are using drugs that is their problem.
Janet
4:03 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012
Lori. Man has the ability to make right or wrong choices in life. Pls, don't use the drug overdose as an example. If someone truly wants to get clean, our county has great resources. No one said it would be easy to clean up their act. It can happen if a person is willing to stop. There are drug dealers because there are drug users. However, I've heard some rumor that man is suppose to be at the top of the food chain and smarter than the average bear. Indeed, it is only a rumor.
christine
10:09 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
To All Who Claim They Did Not Know...first Ignore is not a defense.
even if you weren't aware, there are signs posted. if you live here you should be aware of your surroundings especially since we are so connected with the water, beaches etc. Everyone expected her to say she did not know, surprise! thats what she said....If you come here to live, then you should know the laws whatever they may be Be proud to live here, respect this country. Leave wildlife alone they were here before you....we are in their backyard, again respect it.
Matt Roch
12:13 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Thank you
Gary Huckleberry
1:26 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Make her president of "SPAMM" - St Pete's Addicts of Manatee Molesting.
Victoria Vater Grunlund
11:40 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
People who watche her doing it said she was on top of them & they were flailing. Thats's just ignorant. She didn't just touch them, she was all over them!
If all you have to say is, "I didn't know the law" everytime you broke it, our laws would mean nothing.
Matt Roch
12:14 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
That is right
Michael D.
12:24 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Ignorance of the law is not a defense. It is your obligation to know the law in the eyes of our judicial system.
Victoria Vater Grunlund
11:41 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
So when you are pulled over going 55 in a 45 and you tell the police that you didn't see the speed limit sign, do you not still get a ticket for speeding?
Tony T
6:18 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Let me think.............yea!
Leigh Armstrong
11:49 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Tina Marie
I've deleted your comment for masked cursing, which violates our term of use. I'm reposting it without that part below.
I moved here a year ago and knew of Manatee endangerment and the laws long before I crossed the state line. The law was enacted to protect marine life in 1978. They are calm, passive, slow creatures and as a result are killed often by boaters. :(
On the wtf was she thinking: I've dove w/the manatees and NEVER thought of riding one, some are covered in many sharp barnicles.
I truly hope she gets at minimum community service in relation to the beaches and learns to respect nature. Signs were posted, witnessed were apparently yelling at her to stop, she chose to be an -Removed-. Make an example of her just in time for the snowbirds and more tourists arrive, IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS!
Joe King
2:22 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Leigh, then why did you let the beginning of the third paragraph stand?
Leigh Armstrong
2:24 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I went into this in the previous article. Wtf is more of a colloquialism that is more commonly used. I don't see any problem with it, as long as it's use isn't excessive.
cherylwithac
6:55 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Leigh, you deleted a comment for masked cursing, then in your post, YOU included masked cursing. Doesn't Patch have a policy for ALL posts regardless the author of the original article and regardless of the identity of those who post--a policy that is enforced by the overall editor of Patch? If not, it should.
Leigh Armstrong
7:09 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
cherylwithac,
In the post, I showed what was removed without making reference to it. Masked cursing would be using symbols and letters to spell out a curse word without using the traditional spelling.
cherylwithac
8:27 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Leigh, by your own definition, you DID use masked cursing by using just the first letter of every word. "WTF" is NOT a mere "colloquialism" as you claim. It's vulgar. In addition, you are NOT a journalist because if you were, you wouldn't be sharing your opinions of the event with your readers (unless, of course, you had written an editorial, but you didn't write an editorial, you supposedly wrote a news story). Patch is a joke. It's just as easy for me to read a REAL newspaper online (Tampa Bay Times), which is backed by journalistic integrity, unlike Patch, which apparently is run by a bunch of amateur kids who never learned the ropes.
cherylwithac
8:31 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Leigh, by the way, learn how to use the apostrophe: "as long as its use isn't excessive," NOT "as long as it's use isn't excessive." Where did you get your degree, anyway? The journalism department at USF St. Petersburg, by any chance?
Leigh Armstrong
8:32 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Cherylwithac,
I believe you may think that the comment posted was my own. It was written by Tina Marie and I was reposting, because I wanted her voice to be heard, but chose to remove the portions that violated our terms of use. I'm sorry for the confusion.
Patch Critic
1:12 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
This is hilarious. Its obvious this woman found out after the fact that it was wrong. Do you think she is going to do it again? No. So why does she need to turn herself in. Oh, its the right thing to do. WRONG! The police want to make an example out of her and they have a zero tolerance on this law so she will be charged and she will be fined. She should of just not said anything. The police turned up the heat to show they cared. New flash, they don't care. They have more important things to worry about. Now they do care because they found who did it.
Gary Huckleberry
1:35 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Seriously, now.. laws are irrelevant. Abuse is not. EVERY cop knows of other cops that break the law on a regular basis. They do not report them, and for them, it is illegal NOT to report them. This woman KNEW she was abusing the Manatee. 160 hours of community service with animals may help her realize that abuse to them abuses EVERYONE!
Chuck Fortin
3:31 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Ms. Garcia Gutierrez and her "faux pas" have inadvertently raised community awareness of existing legal measures to protect manatee and helped to expose our ardent intent to care for these wonderful creatures occupying their place that we share with them in our fragile animal and physical habitat.
Cup of Light
3:16 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I was unaware of the law and i have been here three years. Manatees are so cute she probably felt compelled to fraternize the way we do with dolphins, these innocent creatures bring out the child in us. I used to be very aware of endangered species and all these things back in my Greenpeace and SCUBA diver rescue days, now am in teenage parenthood twilight zone, it is twisted but am kind of grateful her case brought my attention to the manatees. Where do I sign up?
Matt Roch
4:19 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Patch Critic. The police is taking care of the problem because their care and that is why they turned up the heat.
Lynne
4:36 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Unless she can't read, she knew it was illegal. For Gods sale everyone was yelling at her and telling her to get off the Manatee! She understand English therefore she understood what they were saying therefore she knew she was wrong to ride the Manatee but walked off w a huge smile on get face cuz she didn't think she would get caught!!! Stupid is as stupid does and clearly with the stuoud idiot grin she had she's stupid regarding posted signs and fl laws!
-Ed Harris-
4:44 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
My family came here in the 1930's and I never knew it was illegal to ride a manatee............but wait, why would I even need a law, sign or special training of any kind to know that! lol I would not. I hope the Manatees can't relay this event to each other as to give us humans a further bad rep. But if the the Manatees could talk, well that is one conversation I would love to hear.
Tony T
6:18 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Where is the women from?
Matt Roch
7:51 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Tony T
With a name like that she must be an illegal alien from Mexico. She was probably trying to get a ride back to Mexico.
Rob Fowler
9:34 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Profanity is disallowed but racism and stupidity is alive and well on the Patch.
Georgia Leblanc
8:18 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Matt R
Honey add some sweets to your diet. You sound like a grumpy old man.
Gary Huckleberry
6:49 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Patch is far better than all the other news sources. Congrats!
Phil
11:03 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
If it is wrong to touch them why are there places where you can swim with them? she was ignorant of the law and at least she turned herself in and was sorry. That is much more than most people would do here. Now she know better not to touch them. Now let's all get back to our lives.
Carla Gibson
3:29 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
I bet that poor manatee was covered with scars from careless drunken boaters slashing her flesh open and then taking off without a care in the world.
True, what this woman did was wrong, but she had enough guts to turn herself in and admit her mistake .. at least she didn't leave the manatee with open gashes in her flesh to bleed to death like the drunken / careless boaters often do!
My advice to this woman? Just assume EVERYTHING you think, say, or do in Florida is against the law. The courts are making tons of money on crimes that no one has heard of .. they love it when these things happen. More fines!
Gary Huckleberry
5:58 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012
Yes, Carla, ... it's all about extortion. All across the USA. Public officials believe that extortion is a good thing, and almost always have self-destructive "control" issues. You may be aware that torturing new born males with the theft of skin from their sexual organ is quite acceptable, although the doctors know that NO washed male ever developed a disease there in these "equality conscious" United States! Our priorities are amazing. We are more concerned with the "riding" abuse to a manatee.
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Janet
2:10 am on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Final Point - no matter which way the manatee swims, IT IS ILLEGAL TO SWIM UP STREAM, OR EVEN DOWN STREAM WITH THEM. For people not able to think on their own regarding the laws protecting the manatee - please do not touch, molest or
feed any wild animal = alligators included.
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