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Man charged with theft from boats

A Port Charlotte man was arrested on Sunday, July 25 in connection with the theft of fishing equipment from a boat at Whidden’s Marina.

Josh P. Grunert, 24, of Cochran Blvd., Port Charlotte was charged with the crimes after the victim reported to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office that while he was renting a slip for his boat at the marina his fishing rods and reels disappeared out of his boat. He told police the equipment ended up in the back of someone else’s pick-up truck on the marina property.

The report states that the owner of the vehicle was confronted as he was leaving the marina after purchasing bait. He said he had no idea how the equipment got into his truck. The rods and reels were returned to their owner.

Shortly afterward, the Lee County deputy handling the incident was approached by another witness. The witness said while he was at Whidden’s he looked at the neighboring lot and saw a stranger walking toward a nearby workshop.

The witness said the stranger removed some ropes and straps from the fence there. When he was approached by the witness, the man – later identified as Grunert – said his friend was stuck in the mud and he needed the straps. When Grunert was confronted he dropped the ropes and straps and left the area.

Grunert was eventually located by the marina’s owner near Gilchrist Avenue and Gulf Boulevard and was taken into custody by Lee County Sheriff’s deputies a short distance away.

Grunert was arrested and charged with burglary of a structure and theft. He was transported to Lee County Jail.