« Update: Shots fired from car while mother, baby on porch | Today | Political sites: Obama going to Iraq with Sen. Reed »

July 11, 2008

Update: Great white shark sighting off Vineyard a hoax

EDGARTOWN, Mass. -- A 60-year-old man is facing a disorderly conduct charge after allegedly lying about seeing two great white sharks off a Martha Vineyard’s beach.

Edgartown Police Chief Paul Condlin said Michael Lopenzo warned people to get out of the water at the Joseph Silva State Beach on Thursday. Lopenzo claimed he had seen two sharks about 22 feet long and 3,000 pounds each while he was fishing.

Officials closed the beach, but Condlin said investigators later determined Lopenzo was lying.

Condlin say Lopenzo gave the name of a nonexistent boat and owner to detectives investigating the sighting.

Attempts to reach Lopenzo were not immediately successful.

A second beach was closed Thursday on the island -- where the classic horror movie “Jaws” was filmed -- after lifeguards at South Beach said they might have seen a great white shark.

In 1974, Steven Spielberg chose Martha’s Vineyard for “Jaws,” depicting a series of deadly great white attacks in the fictional community of Amity.

The beaches were reopened Friday.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:38 PM | Permalink

Comments

Debbie | July 11, 2008 6:46 PM link

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)