Felony-level littering: Warrant out for man police say abandoned sailboat on New Smyrna Beach

Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal
·1 min read
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said his office has issued a nationwide arrest warrant for Michael J. Grimes, who Chitwood said wrecked and abandoned his sailboat on New Smyrna Beach. The arrest warrant is for a felony violation of Florida's litter law.
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said his office has issued a nationwide arrest warrant for Michael J. Grimes, who Chitwood said wrecked and abandoned his sailboat on New Smyrna Beach. The arrest warrant is for a felony violation of Florida's litter law.

A sailor who wrecked and abandoned his sailboat on New Smyrna Beach is now the target of a nationwide felony arrest warrant for littering, according to a Facebook post from Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

Chitwood posted on Facebook Friday that his deputies had identified Michael John Grimes, 49, as the man who wrecked and abandoned the boat on New Smyrna Beach.

There is now a warrant out for Grimes on a felony violation of Florida's litter law, littering over 500 pounds.

Chitwood said that his agency has been trying to contact Grimes since November but he has not responded. Nor has Grimes demonstrated any intention of removing the boat, Chitwood posted.

Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said a nationwide arrest warrant on a felony littering charge has been issued for Michael J. Grimes, who Chitwood said they have been trying to contact since November after he wrecked and abandoned his sailboat on New Smyrna Beach.
Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said a nationwide arrest warrant on a felony littering charge has been issued for Michael J. Grimes, who Chitwood said they have been trying to contact since November after he wrecked and abandoned his sailboat on New Smyrna Beach.

Chitwood said Grimes' current location is unknown although his last known address was in Concord, California. Chitwood added that the warrant was good for nationwide extradition.

Chitwood wrote: "Our beaches aren't your dumping grounds."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Felony littering warrant issued for sailor of wrecked boat in NSB