A Key West police officer who knows the town well tracked down an alleged purse-snatcher.
The driver of the unintended getaway truck helped police find Ray Wright, 43, who reportedly snatched a visitor's purse from her scooter basket early Sunday morning in a Key West motel parking lot. A taxi driver saw it happen and got a good look at the burglar and the truck in which he got away. He gave the descriptions to Key West Police Officer Pablo Rodriguez, who was called to the scene.
Rodriguez knew the truck well because he had seen it often driving around an area known for drug activity that the officer frequently patrols. He saw the truck just before midnight last night in that area, stopped it and told the driver why he stopped it. After Rodriguez read him his rights, the driver reportedly explained that he and Wright had been driving around Saturday night and Sunday morning looking for someone who would lend them some money to buy drugs.
He told Rodriguez he thought Wright was going to try to borrow money from a friend working at the motel, but the driver realized what was really going on when Wright quickly hopped back into the truck, saying "Go! Go! Go!" Wright was holding a dark object between his legs, the driver said. He said he drove a few blocks and then made Wright get out of the truck. Then he hid in the truck for a few hours in an apartment complex parking lot. The driver gave the officer a good identification of Wright.
Rodriguez put out Wright's description to all officers. Officer Mike Beerbower spotted him
walking on Truman Avenue at about 2:40 Thursday morning. He was charged with burglary of a conveyance
and grand theft.
If you live in Monroe County and you haven't taken a good look inside the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, here is a chance to do it for free during "Locals Appreciation Days" at the museum. The normal $6 admission price will be waived on Saturday, Feb. 24, and Sunday, Feb. 25, for all those with a Locals Card or those with a Monroe County driver's license.
"The Custom House is not just for tourists. We think it is important to recognize the people who live in the Keys and give them an opportunity to come in and see what a fine cultural attraction they have in their community," said Claudia Pennington, executive director of the Key West Art & Historical Society. The 1000-member Society operates the Museum of Art & History as well as the East Martello Museum and the Key West Lighthouse and Keepers' Quarters.
The Custom House, at Front and Greene Streets, officially opened as the Museum of Art & History in August 1999. It currently is featuring a collection of needlepoint tapestries by folk artist Jack Baron, as well as some of the little-known paintings of playwright Tennessee Williams, who spent more than 30 years living in Key West.
Also on display is "Remember the Maine" an on-going award-winning exhibition on the sinking of the American battleship USS Maine on Feb. 15, 1898 in Havana, Cuba, an event that touched off the Spanish-American War.
Other exhibits are "Who is Key West?" a collection of portraits by artist Paul Collins of people who have been integral to the island's culture and character, the history of Key West legends Wilhelmina and C.B. Harvey and the work of folk artists Stanley Papio and Mario Sanchez.
The Custom House opened as the Museum of Art & History after a nine-year historically accurate architectural restoration costing more than $8 million. The structure is one of the country's finest examples of Richardsonian Romanesque style.