OSPREY, Fla. (WFLA) – An Osprey woman is facing several felony charges after sheriff’s deputies say she threatened a group of teenagers and young adults with a rifle.
Deputies say 62-year-old Donna Betts was standing on a dock on Palmetto Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Monday, aiming the weapon at a rowing team practicing on the water.
Several victims told deputies Betts was pointing the rifle and threatening to shoot team members and coaches if they came onto her property. She later threw the weapon into the water and went back inside her home, according to authorities.
The rifle was recovered, and Betts was taken into custody Tuesday morning. She’s been charged with 18 counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.
Donna Betts is the wife of Dickey Betts, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band.
That is one couple I'd never want to piss off!!!!!!!!!!!
Having owned a waterfront house in Florida, I can say this. If a conservation non profit was to come in and build a boat dock that infringed on my water rights, you best believe it would start a war.
I'm not saying it's OK to get the guns involved.
But these non profits come in and build stuff and violate neighbor's property rights.
That's just not a good neighbor.
And I worked too hard for my house to allow people to come in and act that way.
Hmmmm............several theories come to mind here, some humorous, some not so humorous.
Probably better to let it rest.............
grigg, Help me understand your comments on "conservation non-profits" coming in and building a boat dock or infringing on water rights. I read the various articles on Donna and I may have missed this component? I read a bunch of high school kids, on a rowing team, were practicing and Donna went out and threatened them, with a gun! I didn't see anything about property rights, or anyone building a dock, etc... I know it may make a difference in her anger, but not pointing a gun at a group of young kids. I just wanted to get the full story.
Threatening with a rifle = bad.
From this article, there is a map which shows "apparently" that a business called Sarasota Crew Inc. is located more or less right next to the Betts property, if the info is correct. If true, that would suggest a lot of DAILY comings and goings to the water.
http://www.wtsp.com/news/sheriff-woman-uses-rifle-to-threaten-rowing-team/426232316
This article states : At about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, members of the Sarasota Crew rowing team were at 400 Palmetto Avenue for their daily rowing practice.
I am not condoning her behavior.
As stated above, living on the water can be challenging.
I can only imagine what it would be like if you've built your life on peaceful appreciation of said water and then realizing, painfully, that you indeed do not own that water and your peaceful backyard has become a public playground.
She is quoted in the articles as saying something like, "they have ruined my life."
Threatening with a rifle = bad.
From this article, there is a map which shows "apparently" that a business called Sarasota Crew Inc. is located more or less right next to the Betts property, if the info is correct. If true, that would suggest a lot of DAILY comings and goings to the water.
http://www.wtsp.com/news/sheriff-woman-uses-rifle-to-threaten-rowing-team/426232316
This article states : At about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, members of the Sarasota Crew rowing team were at 400 Palmetto Avenue for their daily rowing practice.
I am not condoning her behavior.
As stated above, living on the water can be challenging.
I can only imagine what it would be like if you've built your life on peaceful appreciation of said water and then realizing, painfully, that you indeed do not own that water and your peaceful backyard has become a public playground.
She is quoted in the articles as saying something like, "they have ruined my life."
That article also says that they have had kids on that body of water, which appears quite large, for 25 years. It's not like the crew house just moved in, or like this is some tiny pond they are sharing. She pointed a gun at kids.
grigg, Help me understand your comments on "conservation non-profits" coming in and building a boat dock or infringing on water rights. I read the various articles on Donna and I may have missed this component? I read a bunch of high school kids, on a rowing team, were practicing and Donna went out and threatened them, with a gun! I didn't see anything about property rights, or anyone building a dock, etc... I know it may make a difference in her anger, but not pointing a gun at a group of young kids. I just wanted to get the full story.
I, too, am unclear on the connection that griff is trying to draw here
I won't guess what griff is saying either.
This org pops up at that same address in Osprey, FLA http://www.conservationfoundation.com/ , may have something to do with his comments ?
I can't speak for Griff, but I believe he is alluding to it being a bit more multi-faceted than just the end result. Water rights and property rights are clashing many places where desirable waterfront property is having issues with activity / property right to their waters edge. Here in Montana the new fight is houseboats pulling up anchoring 20 feet from your house, and they plan on living there. These boats are full time residences. Defending Donna? No. But unless one knows more, it may be a simmering issue of actual rights vs rights. I don't know the answer. I know it is a problem.
"This land is my land, this land is your land ..." - W. Guthrie
Waterfront property is a luxury that most people will never be able to afford. Owning a lot on the waterfront does NOT mean that you own the waterway itself.
While I understand the Betts' desire for privacy and seclusion, they have to accept that kayaks, canoes and other craft have access to the water. As a kayaker who lives in a similar coastal area, I have been cursed at by owners of mansions along the creeks and rivers. I generally just smile and waive at them.
As long as boaters do not litter and keep their noise at respectable levels, there should never be any problem. Drunken a-holes being loud and tossing debris in the water will have me calling the Coast Guard or local police in a nanosecond.
Personally, I find the scullers (crew rowers) to be as pleasant to watch as the waterfowl.
"This land is my land, this land is your land ..." - W. Guthrie
Waterfront property is a luxury that most people will never be able to afford. Owning a lot on the waterfront does NOT mean that you own the waterway itself.
While I understand the Betts' desire for privacy and seclusion, they have to accept that kayaks, canoes and other craft have access to the water. As a kayaker who lives in a similar coastal area, I have been cursed at by owners of mansions along the creeks and rivers. I generally just smile and waive at them.
As long as boaters do not litter and keep their noise at respectable levels, there should never be any problem. Drunken a-holes being loud and tossing debris in the water will have me calling the Coast Guard or local police in a nanosecond.
Personally, I find the scullers (crew rowers) to be as pleasant to watch as the waterfowl.
Kayakers, canoes, rowers, etc, tend to be the most respectful of the waterways as their presence is typically far less intrusive than the mansions' fertilizers and chemicals that runoff into the waterways and destroy ecosystems. (I'm not speaking to the Bettses, just anecdotal from growing up and living around bodies of water and the people who ruin them)
now i'm just guessing, but it looks to me like there is a large public dock right next to their house. it is at the end of a dead end road where Dickie lives. this seems to be the point of contention.
you can find the map on this webpage. just zoom in and change it to satellite imagery.
I served on City Council for 8 years, just a reference for these types of situations. When I would walk door to door to campaign I would listen to people complain about unimproved or vacant property, adjacent, or near their homes. They wanted some sort of guarantee, from me, that more homes, or a business would not build on these vacant properties? They wanted their privacy and unspoiled views, etc... My reply was always, and not in demeaning way, "you should buy that property, that would guarantee nothing will ever be built there". If property is zoned a certain way, if someone else owns that land, your options are limited. That is just the way it is. And pulling a gun on a bunch of kids.... way over the top. Zero defense for that sans some mental health issues
[Edited on 3/29/2017 by revonah]
Bay Preserve at Osprey on Little Sarasota Bay was purchased in 2006 using a state Florida Communities Trust grant to create public access to the bay and provide a headquarters for Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. It is a community park and is open to the public free of charge. The historic home on the property is not a residence,the public can tour it. The property and house can be rented for private events.
http://conservationfoundation.com/bay-preserve-at-osprey/
so the Betts have hundreds of kids right next door to them every weekend.
I would never buy property on anything bigger than a stream. The fact I could never afford anything bigger than a stream is handy. 
Also, have two different friends whining about the "new house on the vacant lot next door".... like prior post was saying.... To me it's like "duh". One has to come to terms with you control what is between your property pins, and outside of that is "the world"....
I believe I also read that it was Burt Reynolds and Ned Beatty rowing the boat and making a lot of noise during banjo practice.
CCC - cyack concealed carry? 
I have a relative who bought property on the Weekie Wachie river and got pissed when others had the audacity to do the same. They sold after things got "too crowded".
The old Florida joke is things were fine until YOU moved here. I was born there and got out, million people in Pinellas County where I used to live...too many.
I doubt Miss Donna will see jail time.
I believe I also read that it was Burt Reynolds and Ned Beatty rowing the boat and making a lot of noise during banjo practice.
You might be a red-neck if?
http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20170328/dickey-betts-wife-accused-of-pointing-gun-at-rowers
Additional info in this article regarding previous incidents.
The comments are mildly interesting, seems there is a local argument going on with the situation.
"This land is my land, this land is your land ..." - W. Guthrie
"Not if I have a deed and pay the taxes"
"This land is my land, this land is your land ..." - W. Guthrie
"Not if I have a deed and pay the taxes"
I get what you're saying, but I feel you miss the point that Woody tried to make.
Native Americans had no concept of land ownership. Europeans showed up and started staking claims to land. The "Indians" were puzzled. "How can you "own" something that has been here since the beginning of time?" "Can you pick it up and take it with you?" "Does it it disappear when you die?"
When you think about it, it is a strange concept.
There are many situations where (for instance) African Americans can't visit their ancestor's grave sites because they are now ensconced within the confines of "private property". Yes, a lot of these situations have been alleviated by providing a narrow (often unpaved) road leading to the cemetery.
Access to beaches or fishing areas are pretty much slim pickin's for people who are not fortunate enough to "own" said properties.
Strange concept, indeed. Who was the man to first put a price tag on - and then sell to another man a piece of land? What gave him that right?
The comments section is interesting.
It does seem like Dickey and Donna have a legitimate gripe here and it is apparently shared by a lot of other residents. This looks to be a fairly upscale residential area and it sounds like the preserve was granted some sort of exception in 2006 to allow for this rowing club. It also sounds like there are at least " a hundred" kids at times rowing which clogs up the waterway and as someone commented "imagine having a hundred teenagers gathering in your back yard every day."
Not saying what Donna did here was right but this is clearly not residential use. I'd be pissed too. Especially since it sounds like there is some new rowing facility elsewhere in town.
Just checked out Google Maps - looks like Dickey lives right off of Highway 41! Classic!
I'm not familiar with this case. There is apparently a history of lawsuits between Dickey and the Conservation people. As I said the gun is not called for.
Based on the photo I looked at, the dock is huge and cuts at an angle in front of the Betts house. I guarantee you no private property owner would get government permits to build like that.
Ironic that a so called 'conservation" organization is allowed to change the waterfront and degrade the environment by changing use etc. like that.
After Sandy hit out waterfront house in NY, we moved and now live a quiet life in a mountain town.
Local and state government were hassling me and telling me I have to use "treated telephone poles" because my concrete plans "will poison the wetlands".
Too many government regulations now living on the water. BTW you can still buy affordable waterfront property to live if you know where to look. But now with taxes and flood insurance, my days of "living cheap" on the water are over. It was fun while it lasted.
The guy on the 911 says hundreds of kids? WTF? How many kids are that into rowing?
Then they talk about weddings and social events which I could see becoming quite a pain in the ass after a while. If my neighbors started to have hundreds of kids there daily with weddings on the weekend, that would piss me off.
Not saying what she did was right or even the actions of someone sane but it is obviously someone who has had it. I imagine that a few drinks and some anger caused her to react.
I did get a laugh at reading that Dickey disrupts the wedding bands with loud electric guitar. Can't shake the image of Dickey out on his dock with a Marshall amp cranked right up and giving them an earful. Wonder if there were any tapers there? 😉
The guy on the 911 says hundreds of kids? WTF? How many kids are that into rowing?
Then they talk about weddings and social events which I could see becoming quite a pain in the ass after a while. If my neighbors started to have hundreds of kids there daily with weddings on the weekend, that would piss me off.
Not saying what she did was right or even the actions of someone sane but it is obviously someone who has had it. I imagine that a few drinks and some anger caused her to react.
I did get a laugh at reading that Dickey disrupts the wedding bands with loud electric guitar. Can't shake the image of Dickey out on his dock with a Marshall amp cranked right up and giving them an earful. Wonder if there were any tapers there? 😉
Wedding guests screaming requests for "Liz Reed" and "Blue Sky"! 😉
The guy on the 911 says hundreds of kids? WTF? How many kids are that into rowing?
Then they talk about weddings and social events which I could see becoming quite a pain in the ass after a while. If my neighbors started to have hundreds of kids there daily with weddings on the weekend, that would piss me off.
Not saying what she did was right or even the actions of someone sane but it is obviously someone who has had it. I imagine that a few drinks and some anger caused her to react.
I did get a laugh at reading that Dickey disrupts the wedding bands with loud electric guitar. Can't shake the image of Dickey out on his dock with a Marshall amp cranked right up and giving them an earful. Wonder if there were any tapers there? 😉
Wedding guests screaming requests for "Liz Reed" and "Blue Sky"! 😉
And the guys in the wedding band are just trying to make a living and doing the best they can. 
Dickey and Donna seem to have a legitimate gripe.
Donna is beyond stupid for pulling that stunt.
Bottom line is it sucks...fortunately for the Bettses they are millionaires. Market the home as "rockstar owned"...Warren Haynes recently did the same. Worst-case scenario you break even (not likely). Take said millions and buy more seclusion/waterfront elsewhere. Yeah, yeah..."but we love this home/made our life here...blah, blah. Real estate can be a bitch...normal people with modest homes may have sex offenders move next door, so it could be worse. I'm sure Dickey's got the best attorney in FL...get Donna probation, put the house on the market so this foolishness doesn't repeat itself. Enjoy making new secluded waterfront estate a home.
