Florida Man Was Rescued from a Burning Boat at Sea. Then, He Allegedly Pushed the Captain Who Saved His Life Overboard
Ryan Dieter, 40, is charged with grand theft, resisting arrest, operating a vessel while impaired and burglary involving assault or battery
Authorities say a man in Florida is facing serious charges after an unusual series of events unfolded at sea. According to investigators, the man had just been rescued from a burning boat when an incident reportedly occurred involving the captain who helped save him.
Authorities responded to a report of an incident near Marco Island in Collier County on March 6, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), per Naples Daily News and Gulf Coast News.
The FWC and Collier County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately return PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
An initial investigation indicates that a Sea Tow captain helped save Ryan Dieter, 40, from a burning boat and brought him aboard his tow boat. Dieter then allegedly pushed the good Samaritan off the tow boat and drove away, leaving the Sea Tow captain stranded, per the outlets.
Dieter allegedly grounded the boat and then took off on foot. He was eventually located naked in nearby mangroves by local authorities, per Gulf Coast News.
The Sea Tow captain was found safe, per the outlet.
“I don’t know what his thinking process was, but somebody comes to help you, and then that’s what you do,” Nancy Cook, a local resident, said of the incident while speaking to Gulf Coast News.
“It was really disturbing to see that here,” she added. “You know, the security here is wonderful. We always feel very safe. But I don’t know exactly what happened with that. But I’m glad the sea boat captain was all right. That’s scary.”
On March 7, Dieter was arrested and charged on four counts, including grand theft, resisting arrest, operating a vessel while impaired and burglary that involved assault or battery, per public Collier County arrest records.
Dieter is scheduled to appear in court on March 30, per the arrest records. No bond information is publicly available.
