VALLEY MORNING STAR (Harlingen, Texas) 30 April 05 Snake dealer returns to protest day after arrest - Man is contesting SPI’s anti-venom ordinance (Ryan Henry)
South Padre Island: An exotic snake dealer who was arrested Thursday after protesting at City Hall returned Friday with his bullhorn and signs, but stayed further away from the town building.
Sean Palmer was charged Thursday with disorderly conduct and electioneering and loitering near a polling place for his amplified chants calling for the firing of the city manager who he accused of "abuse of administrative authority."
Palmer created a public disturbance and was within 100 feet of a polling place, Assistant Police Chief Javier Garza said.
Palmer is protesting a town ordinance approved by the Board of Aldermen in February that requires owners of venomous snakes to obtain a town permit, provide anti-venom to the town, carry a $1 million insurance policy, and provide the town with an inventory of the snakes.
Violations of the ordinance are punishable by a fine of as much as $2,000 per infraction per day. Palmer has not been fined because the town granted him 60 days to comply with the ordinance rather than the 10 days required by law.
Palmer said Thursday that the ordinances were designed to "run (him) off the Island on a rail."
Mayor Bob Pinkerton said Thursday the ordinances are intended to ensure public safety.
"The problem is that if you have a bad storm, a hurricane or vandalism, the snakes could get out of control," Pinkerton said.
"So we put in some ordinances that say if you’re going to have certain poisonous snakes, then you’re going to have the anti-venom."
Palmer returned to protest on Friday, setting up a lawn chair with an ice chest, signs and his bullhorn Friday, this time across the street from City Hall, more than 100 feet from the polling location.
Island residents Jacob Clements, Jocelyn Smith and their 3-year-old son Jakob Smith joined Palmer in his protest Friday.
Palmer said he would return every day to protest until the town fires City Manager Dewey Cashwell, who enforces town ordinances, and repeals the snake ordinance.
Palmer has been feuding with Cashwell for months. In August 2004, Palmer hired an attorney and filed a cease and desist letter against Cashwell, according to documents provided by Palmer.
"Anybody can make such claims anytime," Cashwell said. "My authority only goes as far as town ordinances. My responsibility is to enforce those ordinances."
Palmer moved from Tulsa, Okla., eight months ago to establish the venomous snake business on South Padre Island.
He said that he buys or otherwise obtains his snakes from persons licenced to import the snakes from such places as Malaysia, China, Tanzania, and elsewhere in Africa.
Palmer said he owns more than 50 snakes and "maybe" more than 100, which he said were double-bagged in cloth sacks, put in boxes and moved out of his Cobra Garden shop on South Padre Island.
Palmer would not disclose the present location of the snakes, but said he is not violating the town’s ordinance.
"I am a law-abiding citizen," he said.
Palmer said he was bitten by a black mamba, which he described as "Africa’s deadliest snake," in January and received anti-venom from Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville.
He said he was hospitalized for three days.
Cashwell said Thursday that if the snakes were not on South Padre Island, then Palmer would not be subject to the requirements.
Disturbing the peace and electioneering, the charges on which Palmer was arrested Thursday, are both misdemeanor C offenses that are punishable by fines as much as $552 each, Garza said.
Palmer was fined $353 for disturbing the peace and $273 for electioneering.
Palmer said a friend wired the money to pay his bail Thursday. Palmer is scheduled to appear before a judge on May 11, Garza said.
Man is contesting SPI’s anti-venom ordinance