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turtle watch volunteer arrested

dmarie avatar
Beach Lover
55,587 views1
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Seagrove Beach resident on three-counts of criminal mischief on June 15, 2009.
Witnesses say 57-year-old, Mary Elizabeth Brady overturned and destroyed several canopy tents by cutting the material on the tents. These incidents took place on Friday, June 12 in the AM, on the beach behind Beachcrest Condominiums on County Road 30A.
Ms. Brady was also seen puncturing and destroying floats at the same location.
Witnesses say Ms. Brady is a Turtle Watch volunteer. Ms. Brady denied that she had caused the damage. There are several victims in the matter.
The criminal mischief charges are misdemeanors.
Ms. Brady was booked into the Walton County Jail and given a total bond of $1500.00. Ms. Brady has bonded out at this time awaiting a July 23rd court date.

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Replies

403
hippiechick avatar
Beach Fanatic
#27
Wait a Minute!!

I thought people were presumed innocent until proven guilty. Noone knows for sure who destoyed property on the beach. How awful for this woman to have her face plastered on this website and everyone talking like she is guilty. I don't know her and I will for sure give her the benefit of the doubt.
Geo avatar
Beach Fanatic
#28
I thought people were presumed innocent until proven guilty. Noone knows for sure who destoyed property on the beach. How awful for this woman to have her face plastered on this website and everyone talking like she is guilty. I don't know her and I will for sure give her the benefit of the doubt.

The original post shows the pic of the person arrested, describes the charges against her and points out that she denied the allegations. I don't believe this person is being treated unfairly. She seems to have half of the posters elevating her to hero status and the other half speculating why she would do such a thing (if she did) and requesting additional information...

This info is public record...

We acknowledge that she is innocent until proven guilty. But we are still going to talk about her!!!
:lol:
Bobby J avatar
Beach Fanatic
#29
I thought people were presumed innocent until proven guilty. Noone knows for sure who destoyed property on the beach. How awful for this woman to have her face plastered on this website and everyone talking like she is guilty. I don't know her and I will for sure give her the benefit of the doubt.

I am going to buy her a cape!
Geo avatar
Beach Fanatic
#30
Sounds like she snapped! I bet there is much more to this story... Protect your children from the evil, turtle, float popping, tent cutting lady! Your float could be next! Ha! What a great story! I bet it gets national attention!

haha
Bobby, the first time I read your post above I thought you said-
Your throat could be next!

:shock:

:clap:
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#31
I'm torn here. Why cut the tents and pop the floats? This makes it seem (to me anyway) that she snapped. Why not just stack them next to the beach access trash can? I get fed up at the sight of tents as well- especially when left overnight. But if the cause is to protect the turtles and clean the beaches then I miss how damaging the items serves the cause. Can someone pls help us get to the bottom?

I don't think that she "snapped" - popping a float or cutting a tied/knotted tent rope/strap is the just the most efficient way to disassemble those items.

Inflated float = beach tumbleweed

P.S. We're not hating on tourists or applauding lawlessness - it's more of a "thank gawd, that obnoxious brat finally got a spanking".

Edited

enfuego avatar
Beach Lover
#32
I'm torn here. Why cut the tents and pop the floats? This makes it seem (to me anyway) that she snapped. Why not just stack them next to the beach access trash can? I get fed up at the sight of tents as well- especially when left overnight. But if the cause is to protect the turtles and clean the beaches then I miss how damaging the items serves the cause. Can someone pls help us get to the bottom?


Maybe she has your bike...:funn:
Beach Fanatic
#33
I don't think that she "snapped" - popping a float or cutting a tied/knotted tent rope/strap is the just the most efficient way to disassemble those items.

Inflated float = beach tumbleweed

Ok, well... maybe she could be the leader of the Most Efficient Redneck Riviera Beach Militia.:ninja:
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#34
Actually, we are called the "Ninja Trash Patrol" :wave:
SHELLY avatar
SoWal Insider
#35
beach rage- stressed related problem due to the overcrowding of a beach resort.

The overcrowding I've adjusted to...it's mourning the loss of those idyllic evening strolls on the beach where I could just enjoy the sights and sounds of nature instead of watching out for the person-eating-holes-to-China, weaving in and out of the overnight Gypsy camps; and stooping over every-other-step to pick up trash. (Yeah, at one time it didn't used to be that way--even with plenty of visitors.)

.

Edited

Beach Lover
#36
It seems unborn turtles have more support than unborn human beings. Applauding any one who takes the law into thier own hands is dangerous.
Bobby J avatar
Beach Fanatic
#37
haha
Bobby, the first time I read your post above I thought you said-
Your throat could be next!

:shock:

:clap:

Ha! You never know.

I kind of feel like you today Geo. Like picking a fight. I thought this was a good topic to get heated up on. The Turtle lady attacks! I feel the same way about Cigarette butts. If someone throws a butt out of their car in front of me at a stop sign, I will get out of my car and place the butt back in the drivers car on their lap. Is that illegal or wrong? It sure freaks my wife out.
Beach Fanatic
#38
Actually, we are called the "Ninja Trash Patrol" :wave:

I see. So popping childrens floats and cutting/slashing the tents of unwanted tourists are part of your covert activities?
SHELLY avatar
SoWal Insider
#39
It seems unborn turtles have more support than unborn human beings. Applauding any one who takes the law into thier own hands is dangerous.

...and it appears that inflatable water wings and $69 Walmart tents do as well.

.
NoHall avatar
hmmmm......can't remember
#40
I see. So popping childrens floats and cutting/slashing the tents of unwanted tourists are part of your covert activities?

No one said that the tourists were unwanted. Litter, which is habitually left overnight on the beach, is unwanted.
Beach Fanatic
#41
The overcrowding I've adjusted to...it's mourning the loss of those idyllic evening strolls on the beach where I could just enjoy the sights and sounds of nature instead of watching out for the person-eating-holes-to-China, weaving in and out of the overnight Gypsy camps; and stooping over every-other-step to pick up trash. (Yeah, at one time it didn't used to be that way--even with plenty of visitors.)

.

I certainly understand Shelly. I was here as a child in the 60's when there was nothiing around. In the 70's I was saying "look at all those Gypsies that are coming here now". Well those 70 Gypsies and now calling themselves natives.
SHELLY avatar
SoWal Insider
#42
Ha! You never know.

I kind of feel like you today Geo. Like picking a fight. I thought this was a good topic to get heated up on.

I'm going to predict that this thread will set a new SoWal record for the most views and comments--and it will do it before the month is out.

.
SHELLY avatar
SoWal Insider
#43
I certainly understand Shelly. I was here as a child in the 60's when there was nothiing around. In the 70's I was saying "look at all those Gypsies that are coming here now". Well those 70 Gypsies and now calling themselves natives.

I'm wasn't talking about the 60s or 70s (although it was REALLY great back then)...I'm talking about the late 90s to early 2000s before this overnight beach junk and trash started to pile up.

.
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#44
I see. So popping childrens floats and cutting/slashing the tents of unwanted tourists are part of your covert activities?

No, but picking up all the crap others leave behind and filling in dangerous holes in order to keep our beaches beautiful and safe are! :wave:
Minnie avatar
Beach Fanatic
#45
P.S. We're not hating on tourists or applauding lawlessness - it's more of a "thank gawd, that obnoxious brat finally got a spanking".

That might be the intent but not the perception which is something David Letterman learned the hard way this week.

It is one thing to applaud the message without supporting the means.

And I am sure there is much more to the story than was reported as for one thing there are always two sides.

Edited

Beach Fanatic
#46
I'm wasn't talking about the 60s or 70s (although it was REALLY great back then)...I'm talking about the late 90s to early 2000s before this overnight beach junk and trash started to pile up.

.

Pirate said it most accurately. Our area has been developed. I don't know why the stuff piles up. I can say that no matter who comes into our rentals, they do not treat them like their own homes. Maybe it is along those lines that vacationers don't understand why local feel the way they do about leaving stuff on the beach. My guess is that this will be a battle that may last forever. I would guess that most vacationers could care less about turtles. They probally would not intentionally hurt them but they could care less. My guess also is that most locals could care less about the turtles. I wonder what this thread is about??? Turtles or stuff on the beach?
Beach Fanatic
#47
Ha! You never know.

I kind of feel like you today Geo. Like picking a fight. I thought this was a good topic to get heated up on. The Turtle lady attacks! I feel the same way about Cigarette butts. If someone throws a butt out of their car in front of me at a stop sign, I will get out of my car and place the butt back in the drivers car on their lap. Is that illegal or wrong? It sure freaks my wife out.

Haha, Bobby, I did the same thing once at the Chevron in Freeport (passenger, though, not driver). The driver AND passenger followed me into the store and started yelling at me, crazy, making no sense, till the manager of the store threw them out. Hub and sons witnessed the entire thing, speechless. Really amazing how mad people can get when you politely ask them not to trash a place.
Lynnie avatar
SoWal Insider
#48
Was the turtle nest ok? I hope so......and, I believe there is much more to this story. It will start to uncover on the 23rd, I guess.
Beach Fanatic
#49
Was the turtle nest ok? I hope so......and, I believe there is much more to this story. It will start to uncover on the 23rd, I guess.

I think you are the first to mention a turtle nest.
Lynnie avatar
SoWal Insider
#50
I read in one post that a nest was disturbed. And, another post that she should have moved the items to the trash instead of trashing them.....hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Beach Fanatic
#51
I read in one post that a nest was disturbed. And, another post that she should have moved the items to the trash instead of trashing them.....hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I'm sorry I missed that.

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