MARCO ISLAND, Fla. (WKRC) - After he was rescued from a burning boat, a man allegedly pushed the captain that rescued him into the water and stole his boat.
According to information from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) obtained by Gulf Coast News and Naples Daily News, a Sea Tow boat responded to a call regarding a burning boat at 7:16 p.m. on March 13.
The Sea Tow captain managed to rescue a man who was stranded on the burning boat, identified as 40-year-old Ryan Deiter, and pulled him onto the tow boat alongside his dog. Authorities reported that Deiter quickly pushed the captain overboard and stole the tow boat, which was worth around $100,000.
Deiter allegedly grounded the tow boat at a nearby shoal and fled the area on foot, but was quickly discovered and arrested. The captain of the Sea Tow was also found in the water shortly after being pushed.
"I don't know what his thinking process was, but somebody comes to help you, and then that's what you do," local resident Nancy Cook told Gulf Coast News.
Deiter was arrested and charged with grand theft, resisting arrest, operating a vessel while impaired, and burglary that involved assault or battery according to arrest records obtained by People.
