- No criminal charges will follow the abandonment of a vehicle on the beach in Holmes Beach.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer told The Islander April 17 that police received a morning call April 16 from Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring about an SUV on the beach near 31st Street.
Holmes Beach police officers responded around 8 a.m. and found the vehicle unoccupied, with cold bottles of beer inside, according to Tokajer.
Officers used the HBPD Hummer to tow the vehicle off the beach and to the parking lot, where it was towed by a commercial service.
Police contacted the vehicle’s owner, Palmetto resident Katheryn Christmas, who said she loaned the vehicle to a friend but did not provide a name.
Tokajer said the city issued Christmas a $250 fine for violating city code by driving on the beach. He added that she also would have to pay the cost of the tow.
“Be a little bit more informed about who your friends are before you loan them your vehicle,” he said.
— Ryan Paice
