Report: Man steals Weeki Wachee dredging boat to “travel on the river”

The Tampa Bay Times ^ | July 28, 2023 | Barbara Behrendt

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

A 35-year-old man was charged on Friday with the theft of the boat being used to dredge the Weeki Wachee River, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

Charles William Fagerstrom, who had no address on paperwork filed with the court, was seen early Wednesday morning by workers who said he was sitting on a bucket on the boat eating potato chips, according to an arrest report. The boat had originally been docked at Rogers Park on Shoal Line Boulevard in Weeki Wachee.

He had not gotten far down the river.

“As patrol deputies responded to the area, the workers maintained visual contact with the vessel and prevented Fagerstrom from bringing it back to the dock or to the shore,” according to the Sheriff’s Office report.

[wildcard_redneck]

Back in 2004 I was at Disney World for a week with the wife and 2 kids and, needing a break, I insisted on taking them to Weeki Wachee State Park for a day. It was old American cheesy and we enjoyed it quite a bit and it was a nice antidote to Disney World and Epcot Center.

[Larry Lucido]

[Larry Lucido]

[CopperTop]

Sounds a lil like Root Boy Slim's Street Sweeper. d;^)

[Waverunner]

As a kid growing up in Florida, you used to be able to swim in most fresh water rivers and ponds north of Lake Okeechobee. The reason, gators were considered nuisance wildlife, and like hogs were year round hunted. Then they became a protected species in the 70’s and exploded across the state over the next 30 years. Now I wouldn’t go into fresh water that’s not close to a spring head like blue springs. It’s a shame, because now we have lot’s of gators, and if they really cared about the ecology of Florida, the legislature and Governors would have restricted subdivisions, high rises and gated communities along the waterfront and allow more hunting of gators.

[pax_et_bonum]

Off the shores of Weeki Wachee,
Of the shining River-Water,
Sat Fagerstrom, thieving boater,
Eating potato chips and drifting,
O’er the water drifting, floating,
To the purple clouds of sunset.
Fiercely the police approaching
Sped their way along the byroads,
Set the streets on fire behind them,
As policemen, when pursuing,
Burn the rubber of patrol cars;
And the moon, the Night-sun, eastward,
Suddenly shining on the river,
Followed fast those crumbs of potato chips,
Followed on the Weeki Wachee,
With her glare on Fagerstrom snacking.

[bgill]

He had not gotten far down the river.

Can't imagine why not...