A 51-year-old man from Miami Beach has been charged with felony attempted murder after allegedly shutting off a diver’s air supply while he was searching for lobsters. Michael Joseph Simpson turned himself in on Tuesday, 4 August, to law enforcement at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Following his arrest, he was placed in custody with a bail set at £10,000.
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The incident reportedly occurred on 29 July at approximately 7 a.m. while Simpson was operating a boat near a popular lobster diving area. According to an arrest affidavit released by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Simpson approached another vessel and began to circle it at a high speed before anchoring just ten feet away.
At the time, a diver from the anchored boat was utilising a Brownie’s Third Lung air supply system. The owner of the vessel recounted to authorities that an altercation ensued, during which Simpson accused them of infringing on his diving spot, despite anchoring there before his arrival.
Simpson allegedly made threats during the dispute, stating that a larger boat was en route. Shortly thereafter, a 39-foot Contender vessel arrived and positioned itself nearby, intensifying Simpson’s agitation. Reports suggest he expressed that he could disable the diver’s air supply system if he wished to do so.
Eyewitnesses claim that Simpson then jumped into the water, and deliberately turned off the Brownie air supply, thus cutting off the diver’s air supply. Fortunately, the diver was unharmed but experienced a significant scare when he was discovered gasping for air shortly after the incident.
The owner of the diver’s boat reacted swiftly, jumping into the water to rescue the diver, who was found entangled in the air hose and anchor line. Upon surfacing, the diver exhibited signs of disorientation, which alarmed those aboard the vessel. Eyewitness accounts highlight that passengers from the other boat shouted at Simpson, urging him to reconsider his actions.
After the altercation, Simpson allegedly swam back to his boat and left the scene before law enforcement arrived. Investigators later obtained cellphone photographs and video evidence, reportedly showing Simpson swimming away from the Brownie unit immediately after turning it off. Several witnesses were able to identify him positively during a photo lineup arranged by the authorities.
Following his surrender to police, Simpson chose not to speak with investigators regarding the incident. His legal representation was contacted for comments but did not respond immediately. As of Wednesday, he remains in custody while the case continues to unfold.
The incident has raised significant concerns regarding safety in the waters surrounding Miami Beach, particularly in relation to potential conflicts between divers and boat operators in popular fishing areas.
As the investigation progresses, local authorities are likely to review safety regulations to prevent similar altercations from occurring in the future. The actions outlined in the affidavit highlight the potential dangers posed by disputes over fishing and diving rights in crowded maritime spaces. Members of the public are urged to report such incidents promptly to ensure the safety of all individuals participating in water sports.