Florida charter captain arrested after viral confrontation with fisherman, police say
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida charter captain at the center of a viral video has been arrested and booked into jail on a burglary charge, the Punta Gorda Police Department said Friday night.
Police said they interviewed several people who were involved or present at the time of the April 1 incident and were able to establish probable cause to criminally charge 40-year-old Brock Horner.
Florida charter captain getting death threats after being mistaken for Brock Horner
In the video, which has been widely shared across the internet, Horner can be seen yelling and cursing at fisherman Gage Towles before climbing onto his boat.
Investigators said Horner escalated the situation into a criminal offense when he threatened Towles and 'unlawfully boarded' his boat.
The charge against Horner falls under Florida Statute 810.02(2)(A) – Burglary with Assault or Battery (non-forced entry).
He was placed under arrest and, as of Friday night, remained in custody at the Charlotte County Jail.
'This type of behavior will not be tolerated in our waterways — or anywhere else in our city,' said Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Smith. 'We are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors, both on land and on the water.'
Chief Smith plans to hold a press conference at 8 a.m. on April 5 to further discuss the incident.
In addition to the police department's investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the United States Coast Guard are conducting separate investigations due to the location and nature of the incident.
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