Captain arrested in Miami Vice death investigation

The captain of M/Y Miami Vice has been arrested at Fort Lauderdale International Airport following the death of a 25-year-old man earlier this month.

Mauricio Alvarez, 49, was detained five days after the incident, as he attempted to board an overseas flight to Panama, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

The Triton reported that Alvarez was employed as captain on Miami Vice when the engine was engaged in reverse, killing Raul Menendez, one of the seven guests who had chartered on the yacht.

The complaint alleges that Alvarez, as operator of the yacht, “could not see the stern of the vessel or ensure the safety of any remaining swimmers in the water while engaging the engines from his location without assistance from another individual”.

Menendez was struck by the 29-metre (95-foot) superyacht’s propellers “resulting in his death”, according to an FWC report.

It is also alleged that Alvarez did not have a U.S. captain license. He worked alongside a first mate on board, and was hired for $150 per hour for the four-hour charter, which was listed at a cost of $3,000, according to the statement.

A U.S. Magistrate Judge ordered Alvarez to be detained on the charge of misconduct or neglect by a ship officer, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years imprisonment. The next hearing is scheduled for April 20th.

Another investigation into the incident by FWC is ongoing.

March 28, 2024
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