Punches thrown in a fight that knocked at least one man unconscious along Lake Winterset over the weekend prompted Polk Sheriff’s Grady Judd to announce zero tolerance for any more raucous behavior on shore and recently documented in a Facebook video.
At a morning news conference on Aug. 12, Judd said the Sheriff’s Office has given repeated warnings and education about how to act along the lake.
Along with fights, property owners, including one along McLean Point Court (near the “Winterset sand bar”), have documented behavior such as sexual activity in public, defecating in bushes, loud music and excessive drinking in their backyards. The photos and videos along with complaints were turned into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’ve tried to work with people but the game is over. You’ve taken advantage of our good nature,” Judd added.
Holding up pictures of people engaged in various sex acts in full public view, he said the warnings are over, calling the behavior reprehensible.
In May, the Polk County Commission voted to establish no-boating zones to keep boaters away from the shoreline in certain spots on three lakes, including the area known as “The Point” on Lake Winterset. Judd said that ordinance needed state approval before it could go into effect, and it’s in in the final stages of that process.
No more warnings
Judd said starting this weekend, all potential laws will be enforced from open container laws to child endangerment, disorderly conduct, and any others.
Holding up “No Trespassing” signs that he said are posted along several private properties, including the site of the recent brawl, Judd said, “You put one toe on that land, and you’re going to jail. If arrested, the boats and vehicles will be impounded.
Judd said 911 was called for the fighting that went viral on social media. He said the males in the melee had a previous exchange of blows at the El Rodeo bar earlier in the summer and that altercation had resulted in arrests too.
In a video posted to Facebook, it showed at one point during the melee, a man sucker punched another man, knocking him out. And then women in bikinis rushed to his aid. As the victim lay face-first, flat on the ground, a woman in a pink bikini in a panic turned him over and started chest compressions on him.
In all, seven men and a 17-year-old boy were arrested on various charges, including a felony each, for their behavior over the weekend. The males range in ages from 17 to 40 with all but one in their teens or early-20s.
According to a Sheriff’s Office news release, they are:
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Mason Land, 23: Rioting (third-degree felony), affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct.
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Payton Ely, 19: Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct.
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Timothy “Owen” Gooding, 21: Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct, contributing to the delinquency of a minor
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17-year-old: Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct.
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Richard Carden, 40: Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
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Garrett Ore, 22: Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
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Garrett Hiltabidel, 21: Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
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Nate Land, 21: Rioting, affray, trespassing, disorderly conduct
Judd said 911 calls and complaints to the Sherrif’s Office have been made every weekend and year-round despite multiple no trespassing signs posted on the land along Lake Winterset.
During the fight posted to Facebook, children can be seen watching the action while on boats parked at the shoreline.
“How is it for that child on the boat to see this,” Judd asked.
Tallahassee tying up Polk’s no-boating zone ordinance
Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell was among the Facebook users to post the fight video, which garnered some criticism for tolerating the behavior.
Braswell responded that Tallahassee is holding up the ordinance as the commission had done all they can to address the bawdy behavior in May.
Judd said the same during the Aug. 12 news conference. He said the county attorney was expected to update him later in the day on the status of the ordinance. He said such an ordinance has to be filed with the Florida Secretary of State before it takes effect. Judd said the Secretary of State “had some questions about it” and sent it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which also had questions.
“My attorneys are meeting with the county attorneys today in order to see what it is that the state wants tweaked so we can put that into place,” Judd said. “We’re also going to work with the county to see if we can enhance the noise ordinance on the lake.”
County Attorney Randy Mink did not immediately respond on the afternoon of Aug. 12 to an email seeking comment on the status of the no-boating ordinance.
The exclusion zones are on Lake Winterset, Lake Clinch and Lake Ariana. With a few exceptions, a boater caught within the zones could be guilty of a noncriminal infraction and fined up to $500, according to the ordinance.
A letter from the Sheriff’s Office and residents’ input was enough to coax the Polk County Commission to pass such a resolution to exclude boats from areas and designate those areas for swimming on three lakes.
The ordinance was effectively an update to Polk”s Waterway Protection Code, which has been in effect since at least 1991 and has undergone numerous amendments.
While some residents support the measure for safety reasons, boaters argue it restricts their recreational activities and question its effectiveness.
The Sheriff’s Office cited safety concerns and increasing near-miss collisions as justification for the restrictions.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: After brawl, Polk sheriff pledges zero tolerance for lake violations
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