One Vineyard shark sighting declared a hoax

By Jonnelle Marte, Globe Correspondent

A 60-year-old Boston man is facing a charge of disturbing the peace for allegedly concocting a story about a shark sighting off a Martha's Vineyard beach Thursday morning.

Michael Lopenzo allegedly told people at Edgartown's State Beach at about 10:40 a.m. that he had seen two sharks about 22 feet long and weighing about 3,000 pounds each, while fishing in the area, said Edgartown Police Chief Paul Condlin.

The island's South Beach had closed earlier in the morning, after lifeguards reported possibly spotting a great white.

Lopenzo gave his address as 17 Court St., which is the address of the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans. Lopenzo is not a current resident there, said Stephen Cunniff, director of community affairs for the shelter.

Lopenzo also allegedly told a detective that he worked on a fishing boat named the Alicia Li, which was owned by a "John Kennedy." But police said they later determined there was no such boat and no such owner.

The state sent a plane to scan the waters off Edgartown Thursday, but the pilot could not confirm the presence of a great white. All the beaches are open today, said Wendy Fox, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

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