MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING GOLF COURSE MARKER

A NORTH PORT MAN WAS ARRESTED MONDAY NIGHT AFTER BEING CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF STEALING A TEE MARKER FROM A GOLF COURSE.  CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY THEY RECEIVED A CALL JUST AFTER 7:30PM FROM A MAN REPORTING A SUSPICIOUS PICKUP PARKED IN FRONT OF AN EMPTY LOT BY HIS HOME.  THE CALLER SAW A MAN GET OUT OF THE PICKUP AND ENTER THE FORMER KINGS ISLAND GOLF CLUB ON KINGS HIGHWAY IN PORT CHARLOTTE.  A CANINE DEPUTY SPOTTED THE PICKUP AND 28 YEAR OLD SEAN CROUSE STRUGGLING WITH AND PULLING A HAND TRUCK LOADED WITH THE 18^TH HOLE GRANITE TEE MARKER.  CROUSE SAID HE HAD PERMISSION TO TAKE THE MARKER BUT A CHECK WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGER FOUND OUT OTHERWISE.  THE MARKER HAS A VALUE OF $1800 DOLLARS.  DETECTIVES FOUND A SHOVEL, HATCHET, HAMMER, AND SLEDGE HAMMER NEAR WHERE CROUSE WAS TAKING THE MARKER.  HE WAS CHARGED WITH FELONY GRAND THEFT.  HE WAS RELEASED FROM THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL AFTER POSTING A $2500 DOLLAR BOND, BUT HIS PICKUP WAS SEIZED FOR POSSIBLE FORFEITURE.