Palatka man arrested for digging for arrowheads at Burnt Island
Staff report
HAWTHORNE, Fla. – Michael David Smith, 45, of Palatka, was arrested Saturday and charged with taking arrowheads from and defacing an archaeological site; he was also charged with drug possession.
At about 10:55 a.m. on Saturday, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer received information that a man was digging artifacts on Burnt Island, which is part of the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area. The area is a documented archaeological site, and it is illegal to dig for artifacts on State and managed lands.
Two officers found a pickup truck in the area with a probe (commonly used for digging artifacts) in the bed. Smith is the registered owner of the truck.
The officers went on foot to the artifact site and reportedly found Smith digging with a shovel; they noted that he was covered in dirt and mud and had several other probes and shovels nearby. Smith reportedly said he was just digging but would not say what he was digging for; he eventually said he was digging for arrowheads and did not know it was illegal to dig on State lands.
Post Miranda, Smith reportedly admitted to digging for artifacts and said multiple people advised him that arrowheads could be found in that area. He said he had some arrowheads in his pocket, and an officer reportedly took two arrowheads from one pocket and multiple pieces of chert (broken pieces of arrowheads and tools) from other pockets.
Smith reportedly gave consent for a search of his truck, and no other artifacts were found, but an officer reportedly found a bottle of Subutex pills, prescribed to a third party. Smith reportedly said he had no idea how the pills had gotten into his truck.
Smith has two felony convictions (none violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He is currently on probation for dealing in stolen property. Judge David Kreider set bail at $30,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Â
Now who would have thought that taking something from State Property would be illegal?
Maybe he should try to find a fulltime job.
He’ll do more time than someone on their third illegal gun possession charge.
He has a full time job this was on a Saturday.
Ok then he is an idiot to be out committing crime on his day off. Hopefully he will not lose his full time job as God know what. Doesn’t take to much intelligence to make the decision ision that digging in a designated archeological site might be just a little illegal and could get ones self arrested. But I might giving this guy to much credit
I wonder if the site is posted with what it is and and no digging allowed.
Don’t they have burgers to flip in Palatka?
Perp shuda insisted that he was digging for El Dorado, which Ponce de León and de Soto had been too dull-witted to discover, but which the State might be grateful for his newer discovery efforts. Perp shuda argued to let him enjoy Subutex until he finds El Dorado or succumbs to hazards of his mission.
He wants to do some shoveling I can point him to some sidewalks the city and county are neglecting.
@ Heavy, your right. He probably will do more time because he’s white in Alachua county. These blue ass judges want to be all liberal. It happened to my white ass.
Thank God the public is protected from this monster! He obviously intended to use those arrowheads in a mass archery murder event. Best to keep them safely buried so no one can see them and get similar ideas! Only government certified archeological experts should EVER be allowed access to a shovel on Public Land ™. Same for fossilized shark teeth because they can easily be converted to arrowheads using commonly available materials and tools (the method for this conversion is readily available on the internet). These subterranean dangerous artifacts should only be available for viewing by non-experts behind glass in museums!
This article actually makes me want to go out there and find some arrowheads, lol