A disagreement concerning a sought-after lobster diving area off the Florida coast reportedly took a dangerous turn when a man was accused of intentionally deactivating another diver's air supply. This confrontation ultimately led to his arrest on an attempted murder charge.
Michael Joseph Simpson, 51, turned himself in on Tuesday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County. He was booked that evening on an attempted murder charge, according to records from the Miami-Dade jail, with his bond set at $10,000.
Incident Details Emerge
The incident is reported to have occurred on July 29, shortly after 7 a.m., approximately half a mile east of Fisher Island. This took place during Florida's annual lobster mini-season.
According to information detailed in the arrest affidavit, Simpson allegedly approached another vessel at high speed, circling it multiple times before dropping anchor approximately 10 feet away. Investigators indicate that the confrontation began when Simpson asserted that the other group was occupying "his spot." He reportedly warned them that a larger boat was en route, which subsequently arrived and anchored nearby.
Authorities further allege that Simpson then threatened to shut off the surface-supplied air system providing oxygen to an 18-year-old diver who was searching for lobsters. Investigators state that Simpson subsequently entered the water and deliberately deactivated the unit.
As the tense situation unfolded, witnesses reportedly shouted, "We have a diver down there you a--hole!" according to the arrest affidavit.
The owner of the diver's boat promptly entered the water and brought the diver to the surface. The diver was observed gasping for air and appeared disoriented but sustained no injuries.
Arrest and Defense's Account
Investigators contend that Simpson departed the scene before deputies arrived. After law enforcement identified him as the suspect, Simpson voluntarily surrendered on Tuesday.
However, Simpson's attorney, Marc Srebnick, presented a different account, stating that his client was diving from his own boat with friends and his two young children and "never disabled anyone's diving equipment."
Srebnick asserted that video evidence shows one of the accusers becoming entangled in the Brownie's Third Lung air system while Simpson "was nowhere near it."
The attorney also challenged the investigators' claim that Simpson fled the scene. Srebnick stated that his client instead idled his boat away from the immediate vicinity to prevent the confrontation from escalating further. He added that Simpson then cooperated with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers who responded to the scene and provided a statement.
Srebnick noted that numerous eyewitnesses aboard two separate boats corroborated Simpson's version of events. He also criticized the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office for arresting his client before interviewing what he described as exculpatory witnesses.
"We are optimistic that the State Attorney's Office, after reviewing the video and interviewing all the eyewitnesses, will dismiss the charges, clear his name, and restore the reputation he has spent a lifetime building," Srebnick stated.