A Miami man who robbed stone crab traps and harvested undersized claws near the Bahia Honda Bridge has been arrested on warrants in Miami.
Lazaro Jesus Alonso Rodriguez, 35, was cited for possession of undersized stone crab claws and charged with molesting stone crab traps.
Lower Keys Marine Deputy Seth Hopp was on patrol on Dec. 16 near Bahia Honda Bridge when he observed a man, later identified as Rodriguez, walking with a cooler and snorkel gear through an area of Bahia Honda State Park that was marked as closed due to Hurricane Irma.
Rodriguez then got in the water with a speargun and Deputy Hopp watched him as he swam to several commercial trap buoys, each time diving down on each one. Deputy Hopp approached him near the seawall for a resource inspection. When Deputy Hopp was about 50 feet away, Rodriguez noticed him and dropped something in the water, which was later found to be five stone crab claws. Deputy Hopp ordered Rodriguez to pick up what he had dropped and he complied.
Each of the stone crab claws appeared to be freshly harvested and three were smaller than the minimum size limit of 2.75 inches.
Rodriguez said he found the claws on the bottom of the seafloor and that other divers must have removed them, but Deputy Hopp told him that he had been watching him for 30 minutes, adding that there were no other divers and that stone crab claws are not found on the seafloor in such a manner.
The owner of the traps later confirmed to Deputy Hopp that some of his traps had been tampered with and that he wished to press charges.
Rodriguez was cited at the scene for possession of undersized claws. The State Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and on Dec. 29 a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Rodriguez was arrested on Jan. 25 in Miami-Dade County where he was released on bail. He will be prosecuted in Monroe County.
Information in the Crime Report is obtained from reports provided by area law enforcement agencies.
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