Losing His Airboat Was Just the Beginning of Florida Man’s Problems

Don't you just hate when you're towing your airboat and it falls of the trailer?

For Florida Man, that was only the start of his problems.

DATELINE - Winter Haven and the Saga of Florida Nan Jonathan Whitesides.

Seems that Jonathan was towing an airboat on a trailer and the airboat fell off.

Well, this happened right in front of the Polk County Sheriff's Office Southeast District. There's also a Polk County Fire Rescue Station there as well.

So Whitesides did what you or I probably would do. He went to get help.

Now, I would probably have also gone to the police station or the fire rescue station and said, hey, my airboat fell off the trailer. I'm going to get some help.

That's what I would have done. Probably what you would have done.

Well, as we'll find out the reasons why, that is not what Whitesides did.

He did return to the scene with another guy to help him. Well, as they're trying to get the airboat back onto the trailer, Whitesides started yelling at the guy who was helping him.

"You're doing it all wrong!"

A deputy sheriff on the scene told Whitesides he needed to calm down. If you've ever been in a situation where you've told your significant other, "Would you just calm down?" you know what the reaction is - "I WILL NOT CALM DOWN!"

Well, that's what Whitesides did and got a little irate at the deputy, took a very aggressive stance, charged in the deputy's direction, pushed his chest out at the deputy with clenched fist and began yelling at him, ignoring once again the deputy's commands to just calm down.

Well, as all of this is going on, deputies noted that Whiteside's eyes were bloodshot and watery, his speech was slurred and he had balance issues. Thus the reason that Whitesides probably didn't go to either the police or the fire rescue station and say, "Hey, my airboat fell off the trailer."

Deputies took two breath samples of Whitesides.  The breath alcohol content in one was .307 and in the other a whopping .334.

As Sheriff Grady Judd said, "One of Mr. Whiteside's breath samples showed him to be four times the legal limit. I'm not sure how he was walking, let alone driving. He made some very poor decisions that night."

Gee, you think?

"He decided to drink and drive and then he decided to become aggressive towards the deputy on the scene. Both those decisions earned him a trip to jail."

Wonder whatever happened to the airboat.

MORE EPISODES OF FLORIDA MAN STRIKES AGAIN

Day TRIPPIN'! Who remembers?

Pack up a sandwich and jump in the car kids- We’re going on a day trip!  I have always loved a GREAT New Jersey Day Trip!
Ahhhh…the days when trips for a day in the summer were a cool kind of "mini vacation" and a very New Jersey thing to do.
On day trips you went with your family, cousins, friends, and neighbors and the Garden State sure had some "unique" places to visit. No cell phones are required. Just living in the moment. Making memories.

I remember being a kid back in the day eating lunch in the car and waiting in line to go on these unique one-day adventures.
Ironically some of the places I visited as a kid are still going strong and while the "day trip" may be a thing of the past, fun things to do never, ever go out of style.
I know you must have had some of the same experiences, so if you were a "day tripper" too, hit me up at TC@WDHAFM.COM
and tell me where you went and what you did.
TC's Web Page

And check out my list below of a few of my favorite "day trippin'" places....

Also, check out some more of my "New Jersey history and nostalgia" stories on WDHAFM.COM

MEMORY LANE: Do You Remember Jamming At These NJ Rock Clubs?

5 Legendary Places Of Our Youth We Wish Were Still Around

New Jersey Bar Bands From Back In The Day?

Memories Of Curtis Kay

WDHA Rocks The Early 2000's Gallery

With an almost 50-year history as New Jersey's ROCK station, we love looking back AND of course, looking ahead to the future and highlighting memories that we experienced and of course promoting those that are still existing in New Jersey history!

Rock On New Jersey!

I have written about Action "Traction" Park in multiple WDHA stories, because I spent so much time there as a kid and a teen AND I'm so grateful I made it out with only cuts and bruises!
Located in Vernon New Jersey and open in 1978, this water turned amusement park was the ultimate "day trip".
In fact, I remember going on school trips to the home of the "Alpine Slide", "Tarzan Swing", "Wave Pool" and "Go Carts" . An adventure? You bet. If you haven't seen the HBO Max Documentary- "Class Action Park"- you must! Every Jersey kid of a certain age rocked the park (Matt Murray worked there!) and we have the scars to prove it!

"Take Me Down To Wild West City".....Oh wait, that's something else!

Cowboys, rides and attractions, this unique theme park has been around for more than 65 years keeping the old west alive. AND it's still around. Renovated and waiting for you to visit.

Wild West City Website

Early Wild West City Commercial 

The Turtle Back Zoom opened in 1963 and has one mission....

"TURTLE BACK ZOO is committed to providing an enriching recreational experience that fosters excellence in wildlife education and wildlife conservation, so that present and future generations are inspired to understand, appreciate and protect the fragile interdependence of all living things."

It was my favorite place to go as a kid, and I'm sure I still have my elephant key somewhere.
From 2000-2006 the Zoo modernized, making many upgraded changes and In September 2006 Turtle Back Zoo was granted accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. This distinct honor places Turtle Back Zoo amongst the elite zoos and aquaria of the United States and means that the zoo adheres to the highest standards for zoos in the country.

Turtle Back Zoo

The castle was "so pretty' and even though it was mostly just a tour it let your imagination run wild.
You felt you were a part of a story!

If you were a North Jersey kid, nothing better than a day trip to the shore. Or "down the shore" .
Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights and Wildwood were all fun and busy boardwalks for great summer New Jersey memories!

If you didn't have a pool or the energy to hit the beach, jamming at the lake was a fun day trip option. Swimming, eating snacks and adventures on the weekends with your pals! And of course the concerts.....OMG...so much fun....but that is another story.
I have to post some concert stuff...come on!

It's still there! Renovated and updated, I need to take the WDHA staffers there for a "day trip staff bonding session"

Check out the "vintage commercial" too- I love it.....