Michael Joseph Simpson, 51, surrendered Tuesday to authorities and was booked into the Miami-Dade County jail on an attempted murder charge. His bond was set at $10,000, according to jail records.
The incident occurred on July 29, during Florida's annual lobster mini-season, approximately a half-mile east of Fisher Island. Investigators allege that Simpson approached another boat at high speed, circled it several times, and then anchored about 10 feet away.
According to the arrest affidavit, Simpson claimed the group was diving in "his spot" and warned them that a larger boat was en route. This boat then arrived and anchored nearby. Authorities allege Simpson then threatened to cut off the surface-supplied air system of an 18-year-old diver who was in the water.
Investigators state Simpson then entered the water and intentionally shut off the diver's air supply. Witnesses reportedly shouted, "We have a diver down there you a–hole!" as the confrontation escalated. The owner of the diver's boat entered the water and brought the disoriented but uninjured diver to the surface.
Simpson allegedly left the scene before deputies arrived. He voluntarily surrendered on Tuesday after authorities identified him as the suspect.
Howard Srebnick, Simpson's attorney, denied the allegations, stating that investigators overlooked evidence supporting his client's account. Srebnick asserted that Simpson was diving from his own boat with friends and his children and "never disabled anyone's diving equipment." He claimed video evidence shows an accuser became entangled in the air system while Simpson was not nearby. Srebnick also disputed that Simpson fled, saying his client moved his boat away to de-escalate the situation before cooperating with officers.
Srebnick added that multiple eyewitnesses from two boats corroborated Simpson's version of events and criticized the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office for the arrest before interviewing these witnesses. He expressed optimism that the State Attorney's Office would dismiss the charges after reviewing the evidence and interviewing all witnesses.