Adventures in Crime With Florida Man
In the past few years, it has become a trend online to search the terms “Florida Man” then enter your birthday. Usually, these crimes have a bit of whimsical, “Florida flair” on them. Here are five stories of memorable Florida men and their criminal exploits.
#1 - Florida Man Hides Underwater From Police - January 15
On January 15, 2020, a Florida man named Christopher Booth, then 36, had a warrant out for his arrest in MacClenny, FL, for selling meth. When officers located him, he was at work. When Deputy Wadford with the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the solar plant Booth was employed at, Booth decided to try and make an escape on foot.
In the words of the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Department, Booth “must have seen too many action movies” and “didn’t take into account he is not a fish” and tried to hide from officers and K9 teams by hiding under water. When he came up for air, he was swiftly arrested and taken into custody soaking wet.
Florida Man William “Bubba” Hodge was seen by officers on July 15, 2021, carrying an alligator down a street in Daytona Beach, Florida. Hodge stole the alligator from a miniature golf course by climbing over the fence.
He was arrested early that morning when officers saw the man take the alligator by the tail, hit it against the awning of the building, and stomp on it twice. Hodge was swiftly charged with possession and injury of an alligator, unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, theft, and criminal mischief.
Credit to 106.3 The Fox on Facebook
#3 - Florida Man Threatens to Destroy Everyone……with Turtles - April 12
On April 12, 2019, Thomas Devaney Lane, then 61, was yelling obscenities at multiple businesses along N. Miramar Avenue in Brevard County, Florida. Seven 911 calls were made about him from Starbucks, Surfanista Café, and Sassy Granny’s Smoothies. He was calling himself a saint, and screaming about how his turtle army will destroy everyone.
An officer escorted Lane to the police department, where he then began screaming at the dispatcher, pounding on glass windows, and walls. He then left and went to a local 7-11 where he was promptly arrested. While an officer stood by, Lane made a 911 call saying “I need to leave now or you will all be sorry you (expletive) with the saint.” He was arrested and also in possession of marijuana.
#4 - Drunk Florida Man Runs Through Convenience Store…Wielding an Alligator - July 29
On July 29, 2018, Robby Stratton first encountered a small alligator with a group of people, however he was not reminded of this information until a video was shown of him and others holding the alligator with it’s mouth taped shut. When he arrived to the store, he had no idea where the alligator came from, and it was in his trunk, so he did what any Florida man would do, take it into the store.
The video of him running through the store went viral, and was covered by a few national outlets. Stratton was back to the same convenience store the next night when he spoke with News4Jax saying “this store sells good liquor, and I drink a lot of it.” He does call himself stupid, but also justifies his actions by saying: “it’s not like I chased grandma down with it in Publix or somethin’.”
#5 - Florida Man Arrested For Trying To Pay For McDonalds Order With Marijuana - December 16
Port St. Lucie police were contacted by at employee at a McDonald’s located in the 3100 block of SW PSL Boulevard saying that a man, Anthony Andrew Gallagher, tried to exchange a bag of marijuana for food. The McDonald’s employee refused and Gallagher drove off. After the employee called the police, the suspect remained in the area.
Gallagher came back to the same McDonald’s where a police officer noticed a heavy odor of marijuana coming form his car. Police found 11 grams of marijuana on Gallagher, where he admitted to what he’d asked the employee, but claimed it was a big joke. He was arrested December 16, 2018.
