BY KEVIN WADLOW  KWADLOW@KEYNOTER.COM

An off-duty Miami police officer arrested at gunpoint an animal-rights activist outside a marine-mammal rehabilitation site in Key Largo. 

Arnold Christopher Lagergren, 41, also of Miami, is charged with four misdemeanor counts of trespass and vandalism for alleged incidents at the Marine Mammal Conservancy. Police reports describe him as affiliated with the international Animal Liberation Front organization, which advocates “direct action” against animal captivity.

The Marine Mammal Conservancy was founded to treat stranded whales and dolphins and prepare them for return to the wild. However, two pilot whales from a Lower Keys stranding in May were turned over to SeaWorld after experts concluded that neither a calf nor a sickly adult could survive if released.

Javier Ortiz, described in a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office report as an off-duty Miami police sergeant, was volunteering Saturday with the conservancy when he blocked Lagergren’s car and pulled a gun on the suspect. Monroe County Court Judge Regan Ptomey set bonds totaling $30,000 on the four charges, according to court records.

“This is a very politically charged situation, obviously,” said Richard Wunsch, Lagergren’s defense attorney.

“It does raise concerns,” Wunsch said. “Anybody would wonder how you get hit with a $30,000 bond on four misdemeanors after being arrested by an armed guy 100 miles from his jurisdiction.”

via Animal-rights activist arrested at gunpoint in Key Largo by Miami officer – Florida Keys – MiamiHerald.com.