MIAMI, Fla. - A Florida man is facing serious criminal charges after an altercation over a fishing spot allegedly resulted in a diver being deprived of air underwater. Michael Joseph Simpson, 51, of Miami Beach, has been charged with attempted murder following an incident that occurred on July 29 off the coast of Miami. The confrontation took place at a popular lobster diving location where tensions escalated between boaters over anchoring rights.
Details of the Confrontation
According to an arrest affidavit filed in Miami-Dade County, the incident began around 5:30 a.m. when Simpson’s vessel approached another boat that was already anchored at the diving site. The owner of the anchored vessel stated that occupants on Simpson's gray conch vessel became irate over the presence of the other ship and engaged in an argument regarding who had rights to the specific spot.
The affidavit alleges that after a third, 39-foot contender boat arrived and stopped nearby, Simpson threatened to cut off the diver’s air supply. The owner of the anchored vessel claimed he heard Simpson say, "I'll cut off the brownie if I want to." Witnesses reported seeing Simpson swim over to the floating Brownie air compressor unit and intentionally turn it off while a diver was still underwater.
Rescue and Arrest
The anchored vessel's owner described diving into the water to retrieve his crew member, who was found tangled in hoses and anchor lines, gasping for air, and disoriented. Authorities stated that video footage captured Simpson swimming away from the scene immediately after the air supply was cut before fleeing in the contender boat.
Simpson was positively identified by several occupants on board the victim's vessel. Detectives contacted Simpson’s attorneys on August 4, leading to his voluntary surrender. He has been transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center pending further legal proceedings related to the attempted murder charge.
Defense Denies Allegations
Simpson’s defense attorney, Howard Srebnick of Black Srebnick, issued a statement denying all allegations. He maintained that video footage and witness statements will prove his client was nowhere near the diving equipment during the incident.
"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 told FOX News Digital. The information regarding this case was gathered from Miami-Dade County court records.
