Social Media claims an idiot "looter" in FL

tomclark

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Dec 18, 2006
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Tampa Bay, FL
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Social Media claims an idiotic, misguided collector in FL

FWC/Florida Wildlife Commission News Jan. 17
Silver Glen Springs is a "Heavy Use" tourist attraction within the Ocala National Forest
From their website: Ocala National Forest - Silver Glen Springs
"As the sun shines, rainbows play across the bottom of the crystal-clear spring basin at Silver Glen Springs, a beauty spot along the edge of the Big Scrub of the Ocala National Forest, with a spring run that pours out into Lake George, the largest of the St. Johns River Chain of Lakes, north of Astor. Both a popular day use recreation area and an important archaeological site, Silver Glen Springs showcases the delicate balance necessary between enjoyment of the outdoors and preservation of irreplaceable resources."

"LAKE/MARION COUNTY
Lieutenant Dan Dickson received information of a subject illegally taking artifacts at Silver Glenn Springs. During the investigation, officers discovered supporting evidence through a social media site and were able to determine a time frame in which the activity was occurring. Lieutenant Dickson, Officer Dana Klein and Officer Kelley Mims coordinated with National Forest Officers to target the illegal activity. A few days later, Lieutenant Dickson received a call from Officer Mims stating that a National Forest Officer was observing the suspect taking artifacts from the river bottom at Silver Glenn. Officer Klein and Lieutenant Dickson responded to the scene at which time the National Forest Officer stopped the suspect as he was exiting the water and found arrowheads and bones in his possession. Post Miranda, the suspect admitted to taking the items from the river bottom and stated that he had more items at his residence that he had taken from the park in the past. Officer Klein and Lieutenant Dickson followed the suspect to his residence where he turned over several arrowheads, pottery shards, chirt, and bones. The suspect was charged with collecting artifacts from state submerged lands without a permit. The bone fragments will be taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office to see if any may be human remains."
Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Ignorance of the ramifications of one's actions is just plain stoooopid and in this case, quite bad. National Forest. Wrong. Trouble. Bad name for other collectors and this hobby.
 

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Several points:

1. If anyone ever says you have the right to remain silent, do so. Remain silent.
2. Why take them to your house to give them more evidence to use against you?
3. How much money was spent in tax dollars to get back $20 in old arrowheads?

I'm fairly certain that if you were to go to the rangers homes you would find a nice little private collection of stuff they found in the park/forrest over the years. I bet none of them would give you permission to look in their homes... ever~
 

where is Gator?
 

His in the lake with the rest of the gators. And as for the person who got caught, digging on state property is just asinine.
 

Man, I grew up camping at silver Glen springs. Every other weekend we went. This was back in the 1976 thru 1979. People that ran it/owned it,lived there in the cottages. The sons name was Rocky,,big time Bass fisherman. Daughter drove a yellow camaro,,bought me beer and took me to a honky tonk!! I was 14-15 years old. Got kicked out for night dive-fishing in the spring hole. Oh yeah,,,,,I never looked for arrowheads there. Or salt springs or juniper springs,,I guess I missed out huh? How much further off topic could this post go,,,,the end.
 

His in the lake with the rest of the gators. And as for the person who got caught, digging on state property is just asinine.

This was even worse 'cause it is federal property . . . There are more severe penalties which can be imposed administratively under federal law. This will be an expensive lesson for this collector.
 

kuger said:
where is Gator?

I talked to him today. Gator isn't dumb. He knows his state laws. In all honesty, I feel for the guy that got caught. They will probably make an example of this poor guy. A looter? When I hear looter in relation to artifacts, I think about grave robbers. A water wader is hardly a looter. I'm scared to death our hobby is about to become a crime. We will have to hunt just as the Christians worshiped while in catacombs. Really quietly and scared. It is flat wrong. As members of sights, such as this one, we need to fight these outrageous laws. In numbers we may have a chance. Are we scared?
 

NC, our hobby has become a crime (mostly) in FL. We fought and lost. I was there in the thick of it. We are not allowed to pick up (misdemeanor) or dig up (felony) anything over 50 years old on state lands and in state waters. National parks and preserves disallowed collecting before the abolishment of the Isolated Finds Program. Our hobby has no power, even when metal detectorists, divers, bottle diggers, etc. came onboard. We couldn't beat the bunch of appointed members of ONE state agency, the Florida Historical Commision, and their predetermined agenda. Yes, it's wrong, yes we should continue to fight but....

Mark my words, all states are going this way.
 

I talked to him today. Gator isn't dumb. He knows his state laws. In all honesty, I feel for the guy that got caught. They will probably make an example of this poor guy. A looter? When I hear looter in relation to artifacts, I think about grave robbers. A water wader is hardly a looter. I'm scared to death our hobby is about to become a crime. We will have to hunt just as the Christians worshiped while in catacombs. Really quietly and scared. It is flat wrong. As members of sights, such as this one, we need to fight these outrageous laws. In numbers we may have a chance. Are we scared?
...I should have put a emoticon by that....I was kidding

Sorry to tell ya,I dont even hunt arrowheads anymore,it is already pretty much a crime out here unless you have lots of time and money to fight off the citations and lawsuites regardless if they are right or not.Its just a matter of time before it drifts your way......
 

:laughing7: Tom and I were typing at the same time!!!I cant find his "like",button either!
 

tomclark said:
NC, our hobby has become a crime (mostly) in FL. We fought and lost. I was there in the thick of it. We are not allowed to pick up (misdemeanor) or dig up (felony) anything over 50 years old on state lands and in state waters. National parks and preserves disallowed collecting before the abolishment of the Isolated Finds Program. Our hobby has no power, even when metal detectorists, divers, bottle diggers, etc. came onboard. We couldn't beat the bunch of appointed members of ONE state agency, the Florida Historical Commision, and their predetermined agenda. Yes, it's wrong, yes we should continue to fight but....

Mark my words, all states are going this way.

I may have 5 more years. The laws are on the books. Fines depend on how well you can talk. If you aren't a smooth talker here, you had best make Mario brother's your hobby.
 

Ahhh yes, I remember the good 'ol days. The old Florida swimming holes, what a great time they were! That was back when Pluto was still a planet and you could pick stuff up off the ground without getting arrested.

I guess I missed out huh? How much further off topic could this post go,,,,

So, to answer your question, Pluto's orbit is highly elliptical and varies from 4.4 to 7.4 billion kilometers, so that's how far off topic this went...

Somewhere around 5.9 billion kilometers.
 

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G.I.B. said:
Ahhh yes, I remember the good 'ol days. The old Florida swimming holes, what a great time they were! That was back when Pluto was still a planet and you could pick stuff up off the ground without getting arrested.

So, to answer your question, Pluto's orbit is highly elliptical and varies from 4.4 to 7.4 billion kilometers, so that's how far off topic this went...

Somewhere around 5.9 billion kilometers.

Where do you guys think this should go? By all means... Lead the way! ???
 

Where do you guys think this should go? By all means... Lead the way! ???

I think we should go slap the guy for taking the cops to his house and saying, "Why yes officer, here is more evidence for you to convict me with. Anything else I can help you with?"
 

Best to know the laws in your area. I carry a copy of the ARPA laws with me folded in a baggie so I do not get rail roaded. Each state is diffferent though Federal law rules when on water. I suggest anyone that water hunts read these laws. They are very acrchaic laws to be sure. Jimmy Carter was the last president that realized that. He tried to change the laws and did but Federal law came in and trumped him with one phrase. That is an interesting story in itself.
 

G.I.B. said:
I think we should go slap the guy for taking the cops to his house and saying, "Why yes officer, here is more evidence for you to convict me with. Anything else I can help you with?"

That was a super fly move huh? Lol!
 

Tnmountains said:
Best to know the laws in your area. I carry a copy of the ARPA laws with me folded in a baggie so I do not get rail roaded. Each state is diffferent though Federal law rules when on water. I suggest anyone that water hunts read these laws. They are very acrchaic laws to be sure. Jimmy Carter was the last president that realized that. He tried to change the laws and did but Federal law came in and trumped him with one phrase. That is an interesting story in itself.

And Carter gets credit for nothing. Rather, he gets only negative attention.
 

Sad to say most of the southern states are all going in the same direction. They dont want the artifacts but dont want you to have them either. I feel it is very sad. Its almost like they want the history to just disappear and be forgotten.
 

so if thats their property and there are no watch out for arrowhead signs, u fall and one stabs u, CAN U SUE??
 

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