Protective dunes on St. Augustine Beach possibly bulldozed, police investigating

There's a gaping hole in one of the protective dunes in St. Augustine Beach and neighbors are upset.

The city believes the dunes near 12th Lane were bulldozed to give someone an ocean view.

Right now, police are investigating. According to a St. Augustine Beach police report, the person who owns the home right in front of the dune said, “she did not know who could have done that.”

But the report gives one clue: An email sent this week by the city’s building official, which mentions he talked to somebody who said they had done it to create an ocean view.

Still, neighbors say now the ocean has a straight shot to their homes.

“The dune line was basically flat level there … for them to just go ahead and do that for an ocean view, I don’t think that was fair for the neighbors,” a neighbor named Roddy said.

Police say this type of dune destruction could lead to a first-degree misdemeanor. But at this time, they’re still investigating and say no charges have been filed.

Cox Media Group