Authorities said an 18-year-old diver was pulled to the surface after his floating air system was deliberately switched off.
MIAMI, Fla. — A 51-year-old South Florida man faces an attempted felony murder charge after investigators said he swam to a floating breathing system and shut off the air supply of an 18-year-old diver during a dispute over a lobster fishing spot in Biscayne Bay.
Michael Joseph Simpson surrendered to authorities Tuesday evening and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The confrontation happened July 29 during Florida’s two-day recreational lobster season, which draws large numbers of divers and boaters to South Florida waters.
Investigators said the victim was diving about a half-mile from Fisher Island while using a Brownie’s Third Lung, a surface-supplied breathing system that floats above the water and sends air to a diver through a hose. The arrest report said Simpson intentionally turned off the device, cutting the diver’s air while he was underwater.
The incident began at about 5:30 a.m. after the victim arrived at a known lobster-diving location aboard a boat operated by another person, according to the arrest report. Authorities said a second vessel approached at a high rate of speed, circled the occupied boat and anchored about 10 feet away.
A verbal dispute followed, with people aboard the approaching vessel claiming that the other boat was occupying their lobster spot, investigators said. The operator of the first boat responded that he had anchored there before the other vessel arrived. A third boat later moved close to the area while the 18-year-old was underwater, according to the report.
The boat operator warned a juvenile aboard the third vessel to stay away from the floating breathing equipment. Investigators said Simpson became angry and stated that he would turn off the air system if he wanted to. Authorities allege that Simpson then entered the water, swam to the device and shut it down.
People aboard the victim’s boat began yelling after the air supply stopped, the arrest report said. The operator entered the water and pulled the diver toward the surface using the air hose. The diver gasped for air and appeared disoriented after being brought up, according to investigators. Authorities have not released information about any lasting injuries.
Cellphone video recorded part of the confrontation and showed Simpson swimming back toward his boat after the air system was shut off, according to authorities. Investigators said the vessel left before law enforcement arrived. Deputies later used the recording and witness accounts to identify Simpson, who surrendered several days after the incident.
Miami-Dade County records identify a Mike Simpson of Island Queen Fleet-Bayside as a member of the county’s Boater Safety and Bay Education Task Force. The temporary eight-member group was created to recommend ways to improve boating education, enforcement and safety on Biscayne Bay. News organizations reported that the task force listing refers to the man who was arrested, though county officials had not publicly addressed his status on the panel as of Wednesday.
The task force completed a report in May that called for stronger education, enforcement, legislation and waterway management to reduce injuries and deaths. The county website describes Simpson’s seat as representing the local commercial vessel or operator industry. Authorities have not said whether his position had any connection to the investigation.
Simpson remained in custody as the criminal case moved forward. The attempted felony murder accusation is a charge, and the allegations have not been proven in court. Investigators said the case remained active, and no additional arrests had been announced as of Wednesday morning.