Florida Man Arrested For Beating Protected Shark With a Hammer

Orlando news stations reported over the weekend that Brian Zachary Waddill, 33, was arrested for beating a shark with a hammer late last year. Waddill caught the shark on December 20th at Bicentennial Beach Park in Indian Harbour.

"Video shows a man, presumed to be Waddill, hitting the shark in the head with a hammer repeatedly. The shark was then dragged back into the ocean," Click Orlando reported.

It was determined that the shark was a Lemon Shark, which is one of 208 protected species in Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission began investigating the situation shortly after the Tuesday afternoon catch was seen on camera footage back in December. Shark fishing is legal in Florida, but their are firm regulations on which sharks can be taken out of water.

The Indian Harbour police department reported that Waddill and another man were out fishing at the time. The Lemon Shark was caught and then beaten with a hammer before being returned back into the ocean.

Witnesses told authorities that "Waddill hit the shark several times with a hammer, then flipped it on its side and used the backside of the hammer to rip the shark's gills out," according to the Daily Mail.

The exact size of the shark is unclear from the surf cam video footage. Lemon Sharks can grow to be up to 11 feet, however. They can also exceed 550 pounds. Such sharks are often found in more shallow waters, and Lemon Sharks also are typically found in groups, making this circumstance even more unusual. Their most common body of water is the Atlantic Ocean, from New Jersey down the coastline to Florida. They have also been found along the shorelines of Brazil and West Africa.

Waddill was arrested Friday on two counts of violating FWC rules regarding captive wildlife. The charges are considered misdemeanors. Though he was arrested for beating the shark with the hammer, Waddill was released on $500 bail.

What does the greatest NFL defensive back (and University of Colorado coach), a renowned rapper, a country music singer, and a movie romantic comedy movie star have in common? For Myers, Florida. A gateway to the Southwest Florida region, Fort Myers is the home turf to many well-known American entertainers. Here we will spotlight five of the most famous people from Fort Myers.

The Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins host their spring training in Fort Myers. That helps to draw a lot of tourist attention. Nevertheless, it's the NFL that boasts about star players from the city of Palms. Deion Sanders is the most well-known. With a nickname like "Prime Time," his flashy play was a perfect match to the glowing sunshine of the region.

Staying on the defensive side of the ball, Jevon Kearse is also from Fort Myers. "The Freak," who later attended the University of Florida, was one of the most athletic defensive ends the game has ever seen.

Now we'll trade a helmet for a microphone. The late Mindy McCready grew up in Fort Myers, before moving to Nashville at 18 to become a country singer. Rapper, Plies, is from Fort Myers as well. Though he too was known for his football ability, it was his hip-hop skills that thrust him into the national spotlight. He also has 10 million Instagram followers, where he showcases his sense of humor.

You will also see Fort Myers represented on the big screen. Actress Haley Bennett lived in Naples for much of her childhood, before spending time in both Naples, FL and Ohio.

Lets take a  closer look at these five famous Fort Myers Floridians.

McCready lived in her native Fort Myers area until the age of 16. She graduated school early and moved to pursue her singing career. She would eventually sign to BNA records and Captiol Records.