Stab Magazine | Costa Rican Law Officer Brandishes Firearm To Arrest Disobedient Surfers

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

803 Views

Costa Rican Law Officer Brandishes Firearm To Arrest Disobedient Surfers

In an equally distressing incident, I had two coconuts thrown at me today. 

news // Mar 29, 2020
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

A couple days ago in Costa Rica, the first major south swell of the season impacted the Pacific Coast. Legally, no one was allowed to surf it, as this Monday the government officially closed all of the country’s beaches. 

That fact didn’t sit well with some.

At Playa Hermosa, a popular surf destination close to Costa Rica’s capital city of San Jose, three surfers were discovered to be illegally frolicking in the waves by local law enforcement (who presumably attempted traditional methods of getting the surfers to the beach—whistles, shouts, stomping their feet, etc.).

What happened next depends on who you ask. Some say that the officer in the photo fired his (flare?)gun into the air or the sand (not directly at the surfers) to capture their undivided attention, while others insist that he simply waved it around to intimidate the surfers and force them into compliance. 

Whatever happened, it was enough to convince the three surfers to return to shore, where they were promptly arrested.  

The perpetrators’ identities are currently unknown, but local sources do not believe them to be Costa Rican or gringo. 

Here’s a take from the original poster of the image, Surfing Republica (the following has been translated, poorly, from Spanish to English):

Today, three people who were surfing in Playa Hermosa were arrested. Without a doubt, this is a very sad situation that is happening in our country and the planet, but we have to do our part so that something unfortunate does not happen. We are ALL dying to get back in the water, we are all going crazy far from the sea, but we have to obey the recommendations of the Ministry of Health. The sooner we do this, the sooner we will be back doing what we love most. All the people who infected others did not know they had the virus. So we must behave as if we have the virus. Each of us could be a carrier and source of infection. Please stay home so this doesn’t get out of control and misfortune happens.

In an equally distressing incident, I had two coconuts thrown at me today. Crazy times we’re living in.  

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Watch: João Chianca Had A Remarkable Hawaii Season Before His Injury

Plus an update on his condition.

Mar 28, 2024

Pittar’d And Feathered

Do the WSL judges deserve the internet's wrath? We asked the man of the hour.

Mar 28, 2024

Robbo, Pickles, And Tyler Wright Become The Underdogs Breakfast At Uninspiring Winkipop

The foreboding blade sharpens and inconsistent judging prevails on Day Two in Torquay.

Mar 27, 2024

“I Don’t Always Win Heats, But When I Do, I Try To Beat John John”

Slater shines and the axe begins its descent on Day 01 at Bells.

Mar 26, 2024

Back Against The Wall: The Ramzi Boukhiam Redemption

Morocco's first CT surfer on speaking six languages, having no coach, and snatching Fil Toledo's…

Mar 25, 2024

Will Kirra, Babies or JJF Stop a GOAT Winning at Bells?

Bluesky BOAG advice from a Superman specialist and former Trials winner.

Mar 25, 2024

Bells Preview: The WSL’s Victorian Sword Dancing Equinox Ritual

Will a Brazilian crack the Top 10 at Bells?

Mar 25, 2024

69 Shin Bones Later + the Anticlimactic State of Big Wave Record-Breaking

Lucas Chumbo might have surfed the biggest wave ever this year. But how will we…

Mar 23, 2024

Watch: ‘Fresh and Fried’ Ft the Quik Kids

How taxing is it to tackle the Gold Coast’s Triple Crown in a single day,…

Mar 23, 2024

The Popular Vote: The People’s Stab In The Dark With Kolohe Andino Champion

Which board looked best — to you —under Kolohe's talons?

Mar 22, 2024

Six Key Learnings From Portugal

Three CT events in, what do we know? 

Mar 21, 2024

‘Zipper’ Is Going On Tour, Here’s Where You Can Watch It  

Dates, times + locations for the Venice, Encinitas, Sydney + Byron premieres.  

Mar 20, 2024

Dane Reynolds On His Future, His Past, And Chapter 11’s Raison D’être

Our 9-minute plunge into the collective psyche of Ventura's pillar(s).

Mar 20, 2024

From ‘Blue Ribbon Cross Country Runner’ to Vogue – How Steph Again Is Back With A Rip Curl Remix

Everything we know about the she-GOATs sponsorship boomerang.

Mar 18, 2024

Stab Interview: Darren Handley Explains Why You Can’t Buy The Winning Stab In The Dark Model

And his decades-long standoff with Slater.

Mar 17, 2024

Griff Embraces Portugal’s Eternal Time Loop To Vanquish Medina + Ewing, Defay Delays The Inevitable

A redeeming closing act at Supertubos.

Mar 16, 2024

The Secret Behind Lungi Slabb’s Inconceivable Greenmount Funnel

Six broken boards, one leaking forehead, and five days of Superbank mysticism.

Mar 16, 2024

Cheat Codes: A Million Miles Worth Of Travel Advice From Coco Ho

Hard-earned wisdom from more than 2,000 hours in the troposphere.

Mar 15, 2024
Advertisement