A battle over a lobster diving spot off the Florida coast allegedly escalated into an underwater nightmare after a person was accused of shutting off one other diver’s air provide, a confrontation that landed him behind bars on an tried homicide cost.
Michael Joseph Simpson, 51, surrendered Tuesday to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Heart in Miami-Dade County, the place he was booked Tuesday night on an tried homicide cost, in line with Miami-Dade jail information. His bond was set at $10,000.
In accordance with Native 10 Information, the incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on July 29 a few half-mile east of Fisher Island throughout Florida’s annual lobster mini season.
Citing the arrest affidavit, Legislation&Crime reported that Simpson allegedly approached one other boat at a excessive fee of pace and circled the vessel a number of occasions earlier than anchoring about 10 toes away.
Investigators say the confrontation started after Simpson claimed the group was diving in “his spot” and warned {that a} bigger boat was on its manner earlier than it arrived and anchored close by.
Authorities allege Simpson then threatened to show off the surface-supplied air system offering oxygen to an 18-year-old diver trying to find lobsters.
Investigators say Simpson jumped into the water and deliberately shut off the unit.
Because the confrontation unfolded, witnesses yelled, “We’ve got a diver down there you a–gap!” in line with the arrest affidavit cited by Legislation&Crime.
The diver’s boat proprietor jumped into the water and pulled him to the floor.
The diver was gasping for air and appeared disoriented however was not injured, Native 10 reported.
Investigators allege Simpson left earlier than deputies arrived.
After authorities recognized him because the suspect, Simpson voluntarily surrendered Tuesday, in line with Native 10.
Simpson’s legal professional, Howard Srebnick, strongly denied the allegations in a press release to Fox Information Digital, arguing investigators ignored proof and witnesses he says help his shopper’s account.
Srebnick mentioned Simpson was diving from his personal boat with buddies and his two younger kids and “by no means disabled anybody’s diving tools.”
Srebnick mentioned video exhibits one of many accusers changing into entangled within the Brownie’s Third Lung air system whereas Simpson “was nowhere close to it.”
He additionally disputed investigators’ allegation that Simpson fled, saying his shopper as an alternative idled his boat away from the speedy space to keep away from escalating the confrontation earlier than cooperating with responding Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee officers and offering a press release.
Srebnick mentioned quite a few eyewitnesses aboard two separate boats corroborated Simpson’s model of occasions and criticized the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Workplace for arresting his shopper earlier than interviewing what he described as exculpatory witnesses.
“We’re optimistic that the State Lawyer’s Workplace, after reviewing the video and interviewing all of the eyewitnesses, will dismiss the costs, clear his title, and restore the status he has spent a lifetime constructing,” Srebnick mentioned.
Fox Information Digital has reached out to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Workplace for added remark.
