Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers arrested Robert Czyszczon and Christopher Monroe after investigators tied them to a plan to scatter more than 1,000 mothballs on St. Pete Beach. The case centers on black skimmers and other shorebirds that use the sand behind the Plaza Beach Hotel to nest.
Investigators said the first reports came on April 20, when mothballs were found scattered behind the hotel, and 500 more were found the next day. Volunteers collected all the mothballs before the birds arrived, but investigators said the chemicals were placed there to stop nesting.
Robert Czyszczon and Plaza Beach Hotel
Czyszczon is the owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel. Investigators said he purchased the chemicals to prevent black skimmers from creating nests on the sand behind the property, and warrants for cell phone information placed him on the beach both nights the mothballs appeared.
That timeline connected the purchase, the beach placement and the later recovery of the chemicals. It also tied the alleged conduct to a specific nesting area rather than a general complaint about litter on the shore.
Christopher Monroe and text messages
Monroe is the owner and manager of Chris' Beachside Bar on hotel property. Investigators said text messaging identified him as participating in the planning and placement of the mothballs on the beach, and that Czyszczon and Monroe did not want the birds nesting behind the hotel.
Both men face a felony charge of commercial littering and a misdemeanor count of attempting to take a state-listed imperiled species by harassment. Pinellas County hosts roughly 10% of the remaining black skimmer population, which is why the alleged target area carried more weight than an ordinary stretch of sand.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Major Evan Laskowski said, "Our officers remained committed to uncovering the facts and ensuring those responsible were held accountable. The illegal use of chemicals that can harm wildlife has no place on Florida's beaches, especially in areas where threatened and endangered shorebirds depend on safe nesting habitat. This case demonstrates our commitment to protecting Florida's natural resources through thorough investigations and strong partnerships."
Lisa Reich said, "volunteers quickly worked to collect all the mothballs before the birds arrived, preventing what could have been a devastating outcome for the imperiled species." The arrests leave Czyszczon and Monroe facing criminal charges after the cleanup removed the mothballs, but the larger question is whether the beach can be kept clear without another attempt to block nesting.
