FWC: Man arrested for catching lobsters out of season, fleeing and eluding police

Suspect's friend dumps lobsters over side of boat

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has arrested a man it says captured lobsters out of season and then fled from an officer when he tried pulling the man's boat over.

Francisco Cazorla Machado, 43, has been charged with possession of lobster during closed season and fleeing and eluding police.

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Officer Andy Cox says Machado was in a small boat with two other men when he attempted to pull the boat over. That's when Cox says Machado continued to turn abruptly at full throttle.

At some point Cox spotted another man on the boat dumping items in a yellow bucket into the water.

When the men were finally pulled over, Cox found blood at the bottom of the bucket, which one of the men admitted was lobster blood. He claimed they were spear fishing and accidentally killed the lobsters.

Machado was placed in handcuffs and the other two men were issued notice-to-appear citations for possession of lobster out of season.


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.