SARASOTA COUNTY — A man told a Sarasota County 911 operator that Donna Betts, the wife of Allman Brothers Band founding member Dickey Betts, stood on her dock Monday evening looking through the scope of a rifle, which was pointed toward 100 teens and coaches with the Sarasota Crew team.
Donna Betts, 62, was arrested at her Osprey home this morning and charged with 18 counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.
According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Betts appeared on the dock behind her home in the 300 block of Palmetto Avenue about 5:30 p.m. Monday and pointed a rifle at members of Sarasota Crew, who were in boats and on a nearby dock preparing for rowing practice. Betts allegedly threatened to shoot different crew members and coaches as she pointed the rifle at them, and made statements that if they came on her property they would be shot.Much of the incident was captured in a cellphone video, which corroborates the claims, according to deputies. Deputies recovered the weapon, which Betts allegedly threw into the water.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Betts then called 911 at 5:43 p.m., identified herself and said that the rowers have destroyed her life.
Betts lives on a property adjacent to the crew team’s practice facility at Bay Preserve at Osprey. The man who called 911 said this wasn’t the first run-in they’ve had with Betts, and there was a restraining order against the woman.
“She’s on her dock looking through the scope and aiming at the kids right now,” the man told a 911 dispatcher who calmly told the man help was on its way. “We’ve got hundreds of kids here, she’s pointing the gun at one of my coaches generally right by me right now.”
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And because of the connection to the Allman Brothers, here’s some music to soothe your inner Floriduh Man or Woman.
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