Michael Simpson, 51, has been arrested on a felony attempted murder charge
Credit: Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation
NEED TO KNOW
- Michael Joseph Simpson, 51, is accused of shutting off a diver’s air supply system while he was in the water searching for lobsters
- Simpson turned himself in on Tuesday, Aug. 4, to face a charge of felony attempted murder
- He remained in jail as of Wednesday with bond set at $10,000
A 51-year-old Florida man has been arrested on a felony attempted murder charge after authorities say he shut off a diver’s air supply system while he was in the water searching for lobsters.
Michael Joseph Simpson, of Miami Beach, turned himself in at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Tuesday, Aug. 4, according to his arrest affidavit from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, which was obtained by PEOPLE.
Shortly after 7 a.m. on July 29, Simpson, who was captaining a boat, approached another vessel at a known lobster diving location and began circling it at a high rate of speed, the affidavit alleges.
Simpson’s vessel eventually anchored about 10 feet from the other boat, a Conch of approximately 27 to 28 feet in length. At the time, a diver from that vessel was underwater using a Brownie’s Third Lung air supply system, according to the affidavit.
The owner of the boat told authorities Simpson began arguing, claiming the group was in his spot, the affidavit states. The owner said he anchored before Simpson arrived.
Simpson allegedly warned that a larger boat was on its way. A short time later, a 39-foot Contender arrived and positioned itself opposite the Conch.
According to the affidavit, Simpson became irate and said he could turn off the Brownie air supply if he wanted to. He then jumped into the water and “intentionally” shut off the unit, “cutting off the victim’s air supply,” the affidavit alleges. The diver was not injured.
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People aboard the other boat yelled, “We have a diver down there you a–hole!” according to the affidavit. The vessel’s owner then jumped into the water to rescue the diver. When he resurfaced, tangled in the air hose and anchor line, the diver was “gasping for air” and appeared disoriented, authorities said.
Simpson returned to his boat and left before law enforcement arrived, according to investigators. The sheriff’s office said it obtained cellphone photos and video footage of what occurred that allegedly show Simpson “swimming rapidly away” from the Brownie unit after it was shut off. Several occupants aboard the victim’s vessel identified Simpson in a photo line up, according to the affidavit.
Simpson declined to speak with investigators after he turned himself in. He remained in jail as of Wednesday with bond set at $10,000. His attorney did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
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