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Pinellas County Sheriff's Office / Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Ana Gloria Garcia Gutierrez, 53, was arrested for riding a manatee on Sept. 30.
In 2012, Florida was a state where a lifeguard got fired for saving a life, a woman got arrested for riding a manatee and a man repeatedly used 911 as a phone sex service.
Think that's weird? It gets worse and more tragic.
In one of the state's most horrifying stories of the year, a man in Miami stripped a homeless man naked, chewing off most of his face before being fatally shot by police. And it wasn't the only story of its kind. In Manatee County, deputies used multiple Tasers to subdue a naked man who bit off part of another man's arm.
Later in the year a man won a roach-eating contest outside a Deerfield Beach pet store and then dropped dead in front of the store when body parts of the dozens of roaches he swallowed blocked his airway.
Read more news on NBCMiami.com
"We tend to be a magnet from every direction for all kinds of sketchery," said Billy Corben, a documentary film director whose works include "Cocaine Cowboys" about Miami's cocaine wars in the 1980s. "It's very late in the game where we go, 'That dude? I guess he seemed kind of weird.'"
Corben, whose "The Billy Pulpit" website compiles weird Florida news, said Floridians tend to show up in high numbers on "The Jerry Springer Show" and "America's Most Wanted." And odd stories elsewhere always seem to have a Florida tie — like former CIA director David Petraeus's extramarital affair being exposed through a Tampa socialite.
And when anti-virus software founder John McAfee ran from Belizean authorities who wanted to question him about the slaying of a neighbor, he wound up in Miami Beach, where he shopped, ate sushi and posed for photos with tourists.
"The state seems to either passively or directly endorse all of this lunacy in some way or another," Corben said.
Then again, this is the state where Gov. Rick Scott mistakenly gave the media a phone sex number to promote a meningitis hot line. After a broadcaster posted it, at least one caller was greeted with a recording of "Hello boys..." from a lusty sounding lady.
Several gaffes involved hunting Floridians.
There were the two guys in Santa Rosa County who used a bow and arrow to kill a neighbor's pet turkey, which they planned to eat on Thanksgiving. Then there was a Flagler County man who shot his girlfriend in the legs because he thought she was a wild hog.
A mother and daughter were sentenced to two months in jail for using two dogs to kill a farm-raised pig in their backyard. They posted video of the attack on Facebook, which led to their arrest.
Ah, Facebook! It caused trouble for several other Floridians. A Sarasota County man was kicked off a jury after a judge learned he sent the defendant a Facebook friend request. The juror further infuriated the judge with a Facebook post bragging about getting dismissed from jury duty. He was given three days in jail.
A Manatee County music teacher was issued a verbal warning for a Facebook conversation in which she described an 8-year-old student as the "evolutionary link between orangutans and humans." A high school science teacher also had some explaining to do when she put a cone-shaped dog collar on at least eight students and the "cone of shame" photos appeared on Facebook.
Those weren't the only strange events in Florida schools. A Plant City teacher was charged with trying to hire a hit man to kill another teacher he suspected was spreading rumors about him.
And a man showed up at his kindergartener's school to retrieve a bag of marijuana and a scale he left in the boy's backpack. More evidence that pot affects short-term memory? An 18-year-old Tampa woman was charged with DUI and marijuana possession three times in less than three weeks, the last two times on back-to-back days.
Bunnell police charged a man with riding a horse while intoxicated after he led officers on a half-hour chase, while a 52-year-old St. Petersburg woman was arrested after police found photos of her riding a manatee.
Floridians also showed that they'll steal just about anything. An Ocala woman told police thieves stole her Thanksgiving turkey from a freezer in her garage; a man was charged in Lakeland after police said he stole two swan eggs from a nest and cooked them; about 150,000 baby clams were reported stolen in Lee County; and a Miami-Dade man had 500 canaries stolen from his home.
Perhaps the oddest was a Reddick woman who drove home to find someone stole her driveway, carting away 300 square feet of brick pavers.
And it's not as if Florida authorities don't take theft seriously. A judge in Ocala sentenced a homeless man to 180 days in jail and fined him $500 for stealing $2 worth of candy.
Then there was the guy accused of selling methamphetamine in Polk County who swiped the recorder with his confession and flushed it down a toilet. The suspect told the detective, "Tighten up on your job, homie."
Even more embarrassing, a Broward County deputy was fired for repeatedly visiting strip clubs while he was on duty and wearing his uniform, sometimes skipping official calls. A West Palm Beach strip-club owner unsuccessfully sued a competing club to block the appearance of Nadya Suleman, claiming the woman best known as "Octomom" agreed to strip at his club first.
Speaking of celebrities and sex, former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan sued a DJ named Bubba the Love Sponge Clem over a secret tape of Hogan having sex with Clem's wife.
While not quite sex on tape, 911 audio recordings were released of a Tampa man who repeatedly called the emergency line and asked the operator to come over for sex.
Florida's unique wildlife always finds a way into the news. An airboat captain near Everglades City was showing an Indiana family how to feed alligators when a 9-footer bit his left hand off. Authorities later charged him with illegally feeding an alligator.
A man strolling along Pompano Beach found a giant blue eyeball and turned it over to authorities. Wildlife officials said it likely came from a swordfish.
On another South Florida beach, a lifeguard was fired for helping save a man from drowning. It turns out the man he saved was just outside the area that Hallandale Beach hired a private company to protect. The company said it was at risk once the lifeguard crossed the boundary.
In miscellaneous Florida weirdness:
— A man who won an auction for the contents of a Pensacola storage unit discovered it contained dozens of preserved human brains, hearts, lungs and other organs that had been collected by a former medical examiner.
— A man looking to repay a $400 debt took a taxi to a Jacksonville bank, robbed it and took the taxi back to his apartment. When police found him, he had changed into women's clothes.
— An 18-month-old girl was pulled off a flight in Miami because the airline thought she was on the U.S. no-fly list of suspected terrorists.
— Police in Holly Hill said a man fatally shot his roommate during an argument over how to prepare pork chops, while St. Petersburg police say a man killed his roommate over a missing corn dog.
— And finally, in what will go down in the first date from hell hall of fame, a Boca Raton police say a 35-year-old woman attacked a man with a knife and smashed his windows after he refused to say they were boyfriend and girlfriend at the end of their first date.
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to much marijuana here in FLORIDA. the sunshine State must be change for weirdo State.
Do tell?? I'm sure the authorities, would love you to share your intimate knowledge on the subject.
In Florida the police will sell you marijuana and then arrest you for possession.
Makes me feel soooooo much better about living in Southern California! We have our own special brand of crazy out here.
Oh I love Florida! I wouldn't live anywhere else! At least we get to carry a gun just in case! LOL! P.S. I just wish our judges had more brains (understand: common sense!) But hey the lawyers are a club just like any other!
Here's a weird story that didn't make the news... a Massachusetts slum lord who became filthy rich during the 80's and 90's ripping off the state with section 8 housing moves to Boca and in 2012 donated a half million to crazy Allen West campaingne.
YES...he's now anti-government, a Tea Party Republican after the government made him a multi-millionaire!! Thankfully West lost the election so that money may as well been flushed in a toilet. In a sane world, the donor would have given the money to a charity. Like a charity that rehabbed his junkie ass back in the day, or a charity that supports all of his sisters that live on welfare. A half million would go a long way for any charity.
There's nothing wrong with turning your life around but play it forward, do a good turn. Especially when those boot straps you pulled yourself up by were not yours to begin with.
I am from ny moved to florida 8 years ago. Used to believe I came from the "toughest" state in the union in every way.....florida by far is the looney bin of the world.....................
If it's so bad, move back. I'm sure Florida will survive without you. Oh, and please take as many like minded North-easterners with you as possible.
Scar-481986
Why is it that when someone makes an accurate observation about the SUNSHINE STATE, it's always GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM?
How about joining the UNITED STATS OF AMERICA and having respect for the U.S. CONSTITUTION for a change?
AJC : Did I order her her back??? I'm only concerned about her obvious dislike for where she voluntarily moved to.
She's admitting, it was a poor move. If you dislike where you moved to, you should move elsewhere. You want her , and others like her, to suffer??
I know the Constitution well, including the Letters of the Presidents. I violated nothing in them. Being the Constitutional expert , you surely are. Care to define which clause is violated????
Darn AJC: Could not find anything???
Maybe , If you studied past the normal high school level history??
And it's not as if Florida authorities don't take theft seriously.A judge in Ocala sentenced a homeless man to 180 days in jail and fined him $500 for stealing $2 worth of candy.
I think that is a disgrace, and the JUDGE should have helped the man, not fine him and put him in jail.
But then, when you are Unjust and have NO Compassion, what can you expect from a CORRUPT FLORIDA LEGAL SYSTEM.
By your reasoning, I should be able to steal your car and then have you pay to get it registered in my name and pay the insurance.
And have you considered that being in jail for 180 days is actually better than being on the street homeless? Maybe the Judge WAS being compassionate.
XDm9mm
NO, I think a Homeless man desperate enough to steal $2.00 worth of candy needs help, not condemnation. It's called using your brain and judgement.
Otherwise we have no need for a judge.
AJC-383569
And just ignore the law?
If the "homeless man" had sufficient impetus to steal to survive, could he not have offered to WORK for the candy?
I'm tired of people making excuses for some people and making those peoples bad choices SOCIETIES problem. HE was the individual that stole. HE was the person that made the CHOICE to steal.
Also, contrary to popular belief, there are many "homeless" people that just choose that lifestyle. Not all by any stretch of the imaginations, but many. Years ago, one particular "homeless woman" in NYC was found dead. Among her belongings was bank statements indicating a personal worth (at least what they found on her) of just shy of 1 million dollars. It also proved she was FULLY aware of her worth as there were recent DEPOSITS and statement updates posting interest. Yet there were no withdrawals. She had also been in contact with authorities previously that HAD put her in shelters and she left of her own accord.
So please don't make their problems my problems. If you feel that strongly, feel free to open your home and welcome them in and provide all the care YOU want. Just do it silently.
XDm9mm
No this is about an "INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW" and JUSTICE.
We know he stole, and that was wrong. The man needed HELP not a $500 fine and 180 days in jail. A JUDGE is supposed to be JUST. That was not just.
And as for helping others. I regularly have given money to the homelss for food, etc. I also TITHE 10% of my income, and give regularly to the needy.
DO YOU? I seriously doubt it. With your HOLIER Than THOU attitude, and LOCK-EM UP MENTALITY, I seriously doubt you give a damn about anyone but yourself.
AJC If this woman was living on the street when she had that much money it is probably safe to assume she had some serious mental issues. Perhaps a commitment to a mental hospital was in order? Oh, wait, I forgot, we don't have mental hospitals anymore. We're saving a lot of money by leaving the mentally ill on the street to forage through garbage cans, crap in the parks and sleep outside in the cold, rain and snow. Got to save money, even if it means treating human beings like animals.
Which one is the Manatee?
That would be the attractive one under the water.
I have lived here for 30 years and we have great weather, great golf, great beaches, and good restaurants and bars. On the downside we have a terrible state government, rampant suburban sprawl (no planning), poor education, hurricanes, summer humidity, and lately lots of crime much of it on the weird, creepy side. Overall though it's not bad if your self employed and can make some money. Jobs pay lousy for the most part.
Florida and California are magnets for stupidity.
From screwed up laws (that somehow filter inward) to everything else.
I have traveled most of these United States and by far these two places top the list of strange.
I think your right,they could go everyday,all year,with weird news in California.Sometimes 3 times a day..lol
Florida and California are two of the most populated states. It stands to reason that they would produce the most weird stories. I suspect that a lot of this is about how many people you can put together in one place without having a few strange ones. BTW, if I were homeless, I think I would prefer to live someplace where it doesn't freeze on a regular basis. If I gotta sleep outside I would prefer that the temperature be in the seventies, not ten below.
buy one let one free!! yes the manatee > not the whale in red white and black
All you can say about Florida is: WOW!, WTH! and OMG!
Seems to me that Florida is somewhat proud of their idiosyncrasy. It is better to be know for being a little crazy then for being treacherous.
IA. Scooter your lack of common sense is showing, duh. When you have a list that starts with 1-50, which would you think is the smartest and the dumbest?
A running joke I have with a co-worker is that anytime I see/read anything strange in the news, 9-times-out-of-10, it's from Florida.
I think 9-out-of-10 is lowballing it...
Someone said that if you picked up the United States by its "Love Handles" and tilted it forward, all the Nuts and Human Debris would land in Florida, which is sadly what we have been witnessing.....And as a Florida Teacher, I absolutely cringe when we seriously consider arming all of my colleagues.....
Still - in agreement with you. And our "esteemed" legislature wanted to enact an open carry law. However, I think the guy with the big ears in the center of the state may object to this one. Or secede from the state. Or split it in half, like North & South Dakota.
Open carry has nothing to do with teachers.
"In Florida, you can legally open carry a loaded firearm while engaged in, or going to and from, Fishing, Hunting, and Camping. With some planning and preparation, a law abiding person can open carry a firearm in public and stay in compliance with the law."
Hmm, Obama, before being elected, allowed firearms for self defense in national parks. But your against the same idea in FL.?? But , then again , that was pre-election.
But by all means complete the transformation. Rename FL, to NYNJMASouth. Secede and invite Bloomberg to be supreme ruler.
Serious pesthole.
Can I get a conch sandwich delivered?
They forgot to mention the Sea Hag shooting her neighbor to death because he wouldn't give her a beer. That was in the Keys.
None of these folks are or were natives ( born here ) they were all northeners that came down with frozen brains and thawed to quickly, ROFLOL,ROFLOL
Don't confuse people like Sue & AJC with facts.
It is amusing to see the NY,NJ , etc population, insulting themselves, their children, and their neighbors.
And since they are the majority in this state of FL.???? They blame who???
They do it EVERY TIME a story is made about FL. Probably from the comfort of their gated community.
Wyoming has less than a million people. There are more people than that just in the city of Miami. I think it is not so hard to understand why more stories come from a place with more people. Don't forget, Wyoming is the state where they tied the gay kid to the barbed wire fence and left him to freeze to death. So every state has a few head cases and a**holes.
Wyoming has more cattle than humans (600K to 500K) which explains the general grounded-ness of the population. Florida was once also a Cattleman's haven. Not coincidentally, when we got away from that Earthy culture we saw an inordinate rise in Flakes....
Florida is the state of the snow birds no wounder why it is screwed up.
didn't even have 2 read the article: i live here, (if not 4 the weather!!) that's why they call it floriduh. people here r so stupid, they bring down the u s's iq by a 1/2!!!!
True that....otherwise, your comments would be humorous.....With all of Foriduh's education "reforms" we simply hit rock bottom and have now begun to dig. Partly due to an influx of immigrants who have yet to learn the language, but also many highly mobile Americans who do not put their children's educational needs before their own....
Actually in the 1960's . A FL. child could go to summer school for advanced studies in math & science.
Then we had a influx of more superior intellect North Eastern retirees that said basically : " I paid for mine up North, F#$% yours" .
They succeeded in having only student failures study during the summer period. Real progressive, huh???
Had to have busing in FL, but in Yonkers, NY ??? horrors!!!
And even those kids failing , had dwindling resources through the years. Yea, your kids were already paid for.....
Personally, I think there's a direct correlation with living in such close proximity to so much Pixie Dust.....
Hah, hah. Too funny. Having grown up in close proximity to that other source of pixie dust, I think you might be on to something....
Exactly my thinking.....Which would help explain everything from Casey Anthony to Michael Jackson...
People, believe me, the state of Oregon may not get as much national press, but per capita there is a LOT of very dark weirdness that goes on there. It may a lack of sun and way to much rain...
When I was a kid, in FL .
One or two murders a year was NEWS.
You could see the bottom of a canal, watch the fish feeding. Shad would upset the water in their runs. You didn't see the constant fish kills of the past few decades.
You could unleash your spinning rod and fish in any canal, now they are all blocked & supposedly owned. Even though state law says differently if your accept state assistance in stocking.
The inter-coastal had Grouper and Tarpon in it. It wasn't the consistency of week old coffee, only supporting catfish.
You could walk down the beach without being harassed by some rich peoples, beach clubs guards harassing you. Yes , they ignore the mean high tide rule on a regular basis. You do still have the enjoyment of refreshing their beaches. But the beachfront wasn't enough, they slaughtered the mangroves , for that little bit more land.
You could be a kid, and walk, or ride your bike , a mile away for your mom to get food from the Quik Chek for her. Without worrying about some pervert attacking your child.
You could target shoot at a local range, or off in the inland sand berms, so long as you were safe doing so.
You actually had neighborhoods, not regulated HOA gated armed camps , patrolled by those wanting to enhance their sense of importance.
And who made these wonderful differences in Florida??? The same Northeastern's living in FL, who trash the state at every opportunity.
This is why most real Floridians are moving away. When the last one has left, kindly , change the name.
People tend to start moving in one direction and just keep going. The more normal people tend to settle out, the weirder ones keep going until they bump into water and can't go any further, especially to the end of peninsulas (Florida, San Francisco, New Orleans) or island chains (Key West). This is why the west coast and Florida have more than their share of weirdos, and why Key West, San Francisco and New Orleans are among the most colorful places in the country.