Town seeks sea grape suspect

Longboat Key police are searching for a suspect who meticulously used a hand saw to cut down mature sea grape trees and cover up the trimmed landscaping at the Sleepy Lagoon beach access in March. 

Public Works Department Parks and Recreation Manager Mark Richardson reported to police March 25 that a public works landscaping staff noticed 20 sea grape trees were cut down illegally at the beach access located at 6399 Gulf of Mexico Drive near Gulfside Road. 

It’s illegal to cut down sea grape trees and mangroves that act as dune vegetation to protect shorelines and hold sand in place.  The dune species also act as a shade protector during sea turtle nesting season so turtles don’t become disoriented and head for street lights instead of the moonlit Gulf after they hatch on the beach.

Police Chief Pete Cumming and Town Manager Dave Bullock said the trees were cut down purposefully, most likely to create a better view for residents near the beach access.

“Someone went in and cut the trees down, cleverly embedding and covering up their work by trying to place other sea grape leaves, roots and vegetation around and over the tops of the trunks,” Bullock said.  “It appears it was done on more than one occasion.”

Cumming said the police department has some suspicions but no suspects yet.

“Our police investigation is ongoing,” Cumming said. 

A home at 5835 Gulfside Road, which sits directly behind the beach access, would benefit the most from a better view of the Gulf with the trees removed, but that house has sat vacant for years. 

A March 25 police report concludes that a hand saw was used in the evening on more than one occasion to cut down the trees to avoid the attention that would come if a chainsaw was used to cut down the trees.

Some trees were cut off at the base, and others are still standing with just small trunks remaining.

Police were unable to find footprints or other traceable items left behind.

Sleepy Lagoon Homeowners Association President Rosemary Dilgard said the issue is one of many that occur at the popular beach access, which she hopes police will monitor more closely. The beach access is a popular spot for Sleepy Lagoon residents, visitors and surfers who use the beach public parking along General Harris Street to use the beach access.

Dilgard said residents also complain about residents allowing dogs to run loose on the beach.

“It’s a popular beach and we need more of a police presence,” Dilgard said. “I think that will solve some of the problems we have out there.”

Cumming said his officers are monitoring the beach access closely. 

“We’re keeping an eye on it to prevent any issues like this in the future,” Cumming said. 

Dilgard hopes the town will consider beautifying the beach access with additional landscaping, especially now that several trees have been cut down.

“We petitioned the town years ago for the access to be beautified and all we got was a picnic table,” Dilgard said. “What we need is some trees and shrubs that we have even agreed to pay for in the past if the town accepts the offer.”

The landscaping, Dilgard said, would also create more privacy for the access, which might result in less beach traffic there from visitors.