PLACIDA — Authorities have arrested a Charlotte County man in the death of a spearfisherman in the Middle Keys in July.
Palmer Reid Long Jr., 72, of Placida, was arrested on a charge of vessel homicide on Monday in the death of Israel "Kiko" Boza.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation and the Monroe County State Attorney's Office issued a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody by Lee County Sheriff's Office.
He is booked into Charlotte County Jail.
Boza and four other men were visiting the Florida Keys and in July when Boza was struck and killed by a boat operated by Long, according to the FWC.
All five men were in the water diving when Boza, 55, of Hialeah, was struck.
Long Jr., 72, of Placida, was being held on a $150,000 bond, according to the arrest affidavit.
"There is probable cause to believe based upon the facts and evidence outlined below, that Palmer Reid Long Jr. was responsible for the death of a human being, Mr. Israel 'Kiko' Boza, and that the death of Boza was a direct result from Mr. Long's reckless operation of his vessel," FWC office Glen Way wrote in the warrant.
"Mr. Long operated his vessel in a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property. Mr. Long intentionally, knowingly and purposefully operated his vessel in a manner that was indifferent to the consequences of his reckless operation and that Mr. Long should have known that the operation of his vessel in that manner would likely cause death or serious bodily injury to another person."
One of the divers was wearing a GoPro underwater video camera at the time of the strike. The camera did not capture the boat strike but did videotape the boat as it passed by, and it captured Boza after he had been struck and was dying, according to the FWC and prosecutors.
The images of Long's boat allowed the FWC to locate Long and his vessel later that evening on July 5 in Key Colony Beach.
"GoPro footage from Mr. Roly Barrueta captured Mr. Long transiting the area dangerously close to him and his son just prior to striking Mr. Boza," Way wrote. "It was this video footage that allowed law enforcement to properly identify Mr. Long and his Contender as the striking vessel."
The group had a dive flag displayed, according to FWC officer Way's report.
Boza and four others divers were swimming with friends approximately 5 nautical miles south of Bahia Honda State Park in Atlantic Waters.
Boza and his friends were also spearfishing at the time. Jorge Urra operated Boza's 23-foot boat and idled the vessel so that it remained close to the swimmers. The vessel was displaying a dive flag to warn other boaters there were divers/snorkelers in the water.
Long was operating his 32-foot center-console Contender open motor vessel "at a high rate of speed through the dive area where Boza and the swimmers were spearfishing," Way wrote.
"Mr. Long operated V1 (vessel one) through the dive area and subsequently struck Boza with V1 and its propellors," Way wrote. "V1's propellors caused serious fatal injuries to Mr. Boza and he died within minutes of being struck. Mr. Long failed to stop and render aid to Mr. Boza, nor did he notify law enforcement."
It stated he went to a residence on Key Colony Beach near Marathon.
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