Charter boat captain arrested for allegedly holding passengers hostage and shooting handgun

A charter boat captain has been arrested in Florida for boating under the influence of alcohol after allegedly threatening and holding his passengers hostage during a 12-hour fishing trip over the weekend (1st and 2nd June).

According to the Herald-Tribune, passenger Carlo Lopeparo, 35, had hired captain Mark Bailey, 36, for a $2,000 day-long fishing trip.

It has been reported that Bailey was drinking beer and rum during the trip, as well as snorting cocaine.

Seven hours into the fishing trip, when the group was almost 60 miles offshore, Bailey was said to have become violent.

The Herald-Tribune noted that Lopeparo asked his nephew, 16-year-old Jason Rialmo Jr., to get him a beer from the captain’s pail. Although Bailey reportedly refused the teen the beer, Rialmo Jr. thought he was joking so brought the drink back to the group of passengers. Bailey allegedly followed Rialmo Jr. and grabbed him by his necklace, which consequently broke.

Things took a turn for the worse when Lopeparo got into an argument with the captain, resulting in ‘yelling and screaming’.

At around 2:45pm the group of passengers attempted to persuade Bailey to return to shore, however he continued to steer the boat out further.

Passenger Christopher Giuffre was called up to the second deck by the captain, where Bailey threatened him, stating, “I have a 9mm and if I want, I will put a bullet in each of your heads and leave you out here,” the Herald-Tribune reported.

Bailey allegedly shot his handgun around six times whilst the boat was at sea.

Passengers stated that after a period of Bailey steering the boat around in circles, Giuffre Jr. managed to get mobile phone signal and contacted his family, 911 and the Coast Guard.

Bailey finally steered the boat back to the dock at around 1:00am where Sarasota police and Coast Guard officers were waiting to take Bailey into custody. He reportedly resisted arrest and kicked a patrol car door whilst being handcuffed.

Bailey was released on a $620 bail.

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Source: Fox News

March 28, 2024
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