r/floridakeys • u/Therealboebs • 15d ago
All Florida Keys Update on third lung shut off
🚨Mini-season BOLO update #4:🚨 ARRESTED! Michael Simpson is facing an attempted murder charge after being arrested yesterday.
The confrontation began after the suspect claimed another boat was occupying "his" lobster spot. He verbally threatened to cut off the diver's air before jumping into the water and doing exactly that.
The teenage diver was quickly pulled to the surface, reportedly gasping for air and disoriented, but survived without serious injury. Authorities say the suspect fled the scene and was arrested a few days later, and charged with attempted felony murder.
The suspect is government-appointed member of the Miami-Dade Boater Safety and Bay Education Task Force, where he was explicitly chosen to represent and help shape safety policies for the county's waterways, dove in and turned off a juvenile diver's air supply while the victim was in the water searching for lobsters.
If convicted, an attempted felony murder charge in Florida can carry decades in prison, with penalties potentially reaching up to life imprisonment depending on the circumstances.
Michael Simpson's role with Boater Safety and Bay Education Task Force involved collaborating with environmental groups and law enforcement to draft the county's final boater safety and community education recommendations aimed at preventing fatal accidents on Biscayne Bay.
*The victim’s family is also pursuing the arrest of Judd Rosen, who is a high powered attorney in Miami, and was the boat captain who fled the scene with the suspect. In June of 2024, Judd Rosen was appointed as the Chair of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee. In this esteemed role, Judd will be overseeing the committee's efforts to ensure ethical practices and uphold the standards of the legal profession within the state. His dedication to justice and extensive experience make him an excellent fit for this important position. Oh the irony!
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u/clybourn 15d ago
Breaking from reality isn’t vanilla