A 38-year-old Marathon man was arrested Friday at Sombrero Beach for spearfishing in a swimming area where children were also present.
Ronald Bryan Barton was charged with illegal spearfishing, tampering or destroying evidence and possession of marijuana.
Middle Keys Deputies were called to the beach about 4:15 p.m. in reference to a drunk man who tried to sell a witness marijuana. Barton was found by Marine Deputy Wilfredo Guerra who was on patrol using a personal watercraft provided to the Sheriff’s Office from Riva Motorsports & Marine of the Keys in Key Largo. Barton appeared intoxicated and dropped the speargun in roughly 15-feet of water. Deputy Guerra took Barton to shore where Deputies Antonio Guieb and A.J. Collier were waiting.
Barton admitted he was spearfishing in an area clearly marked by buoys as a swimming-only area. The deputies noted Barton was stumbling as he spoke. They further noted children were swimming in the area. A witness told Deputy Guerra that Barton offered him marijuana for sale. The witness further stated he watched Barton load a speargun and go into the water, return to shore and re-load the speargun several times.
Barton was taken to jail.
