A Florida man has been accused of attempted murder after he allegedly shut off an 18-year-old diver’s oxygen supply because of a dispute over a lobster diving spot.
The argument took place between people aboard two separate boats on the morning of July 29 during Florida’s two-day recreational lobster mini season.
Steven Del Sol, the operator of a lobster fishing boat, took 18-year-old Hunter Coffer to a known lobster-diving location off the coast of Miami around 5.30am that morning, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by the Daily Mail.
As the teenager prepared to dive, a second vessel rapidly approached Del Sol’s boat and circled it a few times before anchoring about 10 feet away, the complaint stated.
Michael Simpson, 51, and others aboard his Conch boat began arguing with those aboard Del Sol’s vessel, claiming they were in their spot, according to the complaint.
The argument would eventually escalate before Simpson dove into the water to turn off Coffer’s oxygen supply while he was tens of feet below the surface, the complaint stated. The 51-year-old was arrested for attempted murder a few days later.
After Simpson and others on his boat claimed Del Sol took their spot, he countered that he had already anchored before they had arrived.
As the groups argued, people aboard the Conch said: ‘Wait until the 39-foot Contender arrives!’ the complaint stated.
Hunter Coffer, 18, allegedly had his oxygen supply cut off while he was diving because of a dispute over a lobster diving spot
Michael Simpson, 51, is accused of turning off Coffer’s brownie third lung breathing apparatus. He has been charged with second-degree attempted murder
Soon after, the Contender approached and also circled around Del Sol’s vessel before stopping about 10 feet away, similarly to the Conch, the complaint said.
Coffer, the 18-year-old, got into the water despite the turmoil, using a brownie third lung breathing apparatus for air. The device floats on the water’s surface and provides oxygen to a diver through tubes.
Del Sol later told police that he had to warn a minor aboard the Contender to stay away from the brownie system because there was a diver underwater, to which Simpson replied: ‘I’ll turn the brownie off if I want to,’ the complaint said.
Simpson then jumped from his Conch and swam to the device before intentionally turning it off, thereby stopping Coffer’s oxygen supply, according to the complaint.
‘We have a diver down there, you a**hole!’ those aboard Del Sol’s vessel shouted at Simpson, the complaint said.
Del Sol then jumped into the water and pulled Coffer up by the tubes attached to the brownie third lung. Once the 18-year-old surfaced, he was disoriented and gasping for air, confused about what happened, the complaint said.
Video taken by a woman on Del Sol’s boat shows Simpson swimming back to his Conch shortly after he allegedly turned off the oxygen device.
Simpson then took off in his boat along with the Contender, according to the criminal complaint.
Video shows Simpson climbing back onto his Conch boat after allegedly turning off the 18-year-old’s breathing apparatus
The brownie third lung is pictured floating on the surface. Coffer was disoriented and gasping for air when he was pulled to the surface, according to a criminal complaint
Police identified Simpson through photos and videos provided by people aboard Del Sol’s vessel and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
He voluntarily surrendered on Tuesday and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a charge of attempted felony murder.
Simpson appeared in court on Wednesday, where the judge reduced his charge to second-degree attempted murder, a less severe but still serious felony that carries up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The 51-year-old pleaded not guilty, and he posted a $10,000 bond. The court said it expected he would be released by Wednesday evening.
Simpson served as a former volunteer member of Miami-Dade County’s Boater Safety and Bay Education Task Force, a temporary program intended to improve boating safety standards, the Miami-Dade Mayor’s Office told CBS News.
The mayor’s office said that Simpson’s alleged actions were ‘contrary’ to the task force’s mission.
A spokesperson for Simpson’s family released a public statement that said: ‘The allegations against Mike Simpson are categorically false,’ and he ‘never came into contact with, or interfered with, anyone’s diving equipment.’
The statement further claimed that ‘Numerous eyewitnesses on two separate boats directly contradict the allegations.’
The criminal complaint said multiple people saw Simpson turn off Coffer’s breathing device. The 18-year-old is pictured (center) with friends after a duck hunting trip
The criminal complaint, however, alleges that ‘all the occupants’ on Del Sol’s vessel witnessed Simpson turn off Coffer’s breathing device.
The spokesperson’s statement also said that Del Sol fell off his boat and got tangled in ‘his own hose and anchor line’ while Simpson was ‘nowhere near [the third-lung diving device].’
The statement concluded: ‘Mike Simpson has devoted his life to boating safety. He has earned a reputation as one of South Florida’s safest and most responsible boaters and serves on a boating safety council.
‘He looks forward to presenting the full facts in court, clearing his name, and restoring the reputation he has spent a lifetime building.’
