Down in the Dumps
Google Earth apparently has a new calling: solving crimes!
Deputy Gregory Barnes found an abandoned one-ton boat dumped illegally in an undeveloped subdivision of Pace, Fla. Since the vehicle identification number and registration had been removed from the boat, he went on the internet to see if he could track down its owner.
"He used Google Earth to look around the surrounding area," said a spokesman for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. "He was looking for anyone who had that boat at the time the satellite image was taken."
Barnes lucked out, finding a fuzzy image of apparently the same boat at the home of Dwight Everett Foster. Foster, who lives near the subdivision where the boat was dumped, admitted that he and his son were the dumpers.
"Dwight stated it was his decision to dump the boat," the arrest report reads. "Dwight stated that it was ... stupid and he knew he shouldn’t have done it."
According to a Sheriff’s report, it would have cost only $18 for Foster’s son to properly dispose of the boat at the landfill.
Foster was arrested on March 27 and is facing felony charges of littering more than 500 pounds of waste, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
"This whole act's immutably decreed. 'Twas rehearsed by thee and me a billion years before this ocean rolled. Fool! I am the Fates' lieutenant; I act under orders." (from Moby Dick)
Source: Pensacola News Journal
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Posted by Bob in Illinois on April 14, 2010:
To Melissa, Eugene OR it only says "which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine" not that he will get that much. They will plea-bargain it down to nothing, probably cost of disposal and a small fine. My guess he did it because he wanted to keep the boat trailer.
I agree with the others about the diapers, that cigarette butts, empty cigarette packs, pop and beer cans/bottles thrown by the road side. I live on a short street, two different ends with very different lawn ‘decorations’. At my end it’s fairly clean an accessional wind-blown object. At the other end on a daily bases there are whole bags of debris strewn about. And the police are called to that end of the street at least twice a day and almost always someone goes to jail. I have lived at the same location for almost eight years, from my home office window I can see all the way down to the other end. By now one would think that they have arrested everyone at that end of the street.
Posted by eileen in san jose, ca on April 15, 2010:
I'll never understand the mentality of people who just dump whatever, wherever, for someone else to clean up. I run a smoke-free household, but routinely have cigarette butts and wrappers left on my property. The sense of entitlement and laziness of some folks never ceases to amaze me. I try hard to be tolerant. And...the "mad" this gives me allows me to do the clean-up in record time.
Posted by Dave - Portland OR on April 17, 2010:
Sorry to continue with the somewhat off topic "people who dump/drop/throw out garbage" - I must say the ones that puzzle me are those dog owners who pick up the poo in the little plastic bag and then drop the bag. Laziness can't quite explain it since they went to the trouble of picking up the poo in the first place, instead of taking the lazy route and leaving it where the dog does!