Pasco Deputies Seek Help After Illegal Boat Dumping in Holiday
Pasco County deputies are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying who dumped a 25-foot Sea Ray Sorrento on county property in Holiday. The incident raises concerns about environmental damage, public safety, and cleanup costs that can affect neighboring communities including Hernando County.
Pasco County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Jan. 6 asked for help in an investigation into a vessel illegally dumped on county property Dec. 20 in the area of Gulf Trace Boulevard and Inlet Breeze Way in Holiday. The vessel was identified as a 1988, 25-foot Sea Ray Sorrento bearing Connecticut registration numbers.
The sheriff’s office said the boat was left on county property, prompting an active inquiry into who dumped it and why. Deputies are seeking tips from the public to establish ownership, the identity of the person or persons responsible, and any circumstances that led to the abandonment.
For residents with information, Pasco officials provided a Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488 and asked tipsters to reference case No. 25043158. Tips can also be submitted online at pascosheriff.com/tips/. Photos of the dumped vessel were provided by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office as part of the request for information.
Illegally dumped vessels pose several practical concerns for communities along the Gulf Coast. Abandoned boats can leak fuel and other hazardous fluids, create navigational hazards if moved into waterways, and damage sensitive shoreline habitats. County governments are commonly responsible for removal and disposal when the owner cannot be located, shifting cleanup costs to taxpayers and local budgets.
Hernando County residents should remain attentive because illegal dumping and vessel abandonment are regional issues that can cross jurisdictional lines. Problems discovered in one county can have spillover environmental and fiscal effects on neighboring counties, and coordination between local governments is often necessary to manage removal and remediation.
Law enforcement investigations into abandoned vessels can involve registration checks, forensic inspections, and inquiries into recent local activity or reports. Public tips frequently provide critical leads that help identify owners or suspects and reduce the time vessels remain on public property.
Anyone with knowledge about the Sea Ray Sorrento or the Dec. 20 dumping incident is encouraged to contact the Pasco Sheriff’s Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488 and reference case No. 25043158, or submit a tip at pascosheriff.com/tips/. Photos accompanying the sheriff’s office announcement are available through Pasco County authorities.
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