A 40-year-old Marathon man was arrested Tuesday night — just hours before the start of commercial and regular lobster season — for allegedly robbing lobster traps on the bayside of Grassy Key.
“I want to thank Marine Deputies Willie Guerra and Luis Guiardinu who made this case for their continued hard work to protect our environment and warn others who are thinking of committing this crime — you will be arrested and you will go to jail,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay.
Dorgis Rodriguez Lugones was charged with trap molestation, possession of out-of-season lobster and tampering with evidence.
The deputies were on patrol at approximately 11:45 p.m. when they observed a blacked out 17-foot Mako boat with a lobster trap aboard. A male suspect, identified as Rodriguez Lugones, refused lawful commands to not dump the trap in the water, but deputies say he did just that. Deputies said he then picked up a cooler and dumped approximately 30 lobster back into the water and placed his hands on his head.
Rodriguez Lugones was detained and the trap was retrieved from the water. Rodruguez Lugones was taken to jail and the boat was impounded pending the investigation.
