A loud crash led Key West police to an alleged burglar inside a Duval Street restaurant courtyard early this morning. Following the noise, the officer's flashlight shined on a man trying to scale an iron fence from inside the rear of the Bagatelle Restaurant courtyard. A broken bottle of wine was on the concrete floor by the open kitchen door. The man, later identified as Josh Dassay, 19, reportedly told Officer Kenny Beerbower he had climbed over the fence looking for the sharks.
A night maintenance man called police at 3:43 a.m. when he saw the man duck behind the bar. Police called the owner once they had Dassay in custody. She said nothing other than the wine appeared to be missing. At the county jail, officers reportedly confiscated a small bag of tranquilizers hidden in Dassay's pants leg. He apparently had hidden another pill, because officers reportedly saw him place a pill on his tongue, knock on the holding cell glass, swallow and display a crude hand gesture. Dassay was charged with burglary and possession of a controlled substance.
Roger Braun has been named Executive Director of the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority. He succeeds John T. Doughtry, who is retiring after 18 years at the Helm. Braun's qualifications include a Master's Degree in Business Administration, 20 years experience in top management of the Key WEst HOusing authority, extensive experience in working with local, state and federal government entities and in grant writing.