On 12/29/2023 at approximately 6:30pm, I received a call from our dispatch center regarding a single vessel boat accident which had allegedly occurred near Jewfish Key in Manatee County.  Longboat Key Police Department was on-scene at Cannon's Marina on Longboat Key from which the vessel had been rented.  Longboat Key Police Department Sergeant advised they got involved due to a civil dispute that had arisen between the renter/operator and the Marina staff, as a result of the accident.  Longboat Key Police documented all parties involved, photographed the damage to the vessel, and provided me with all the pertinent information regarding the accident for follow-up investigation.  I concluded my investigation after meeting with the operator/occupant on 12/31/23 at their vacation residence.   
(copied from detailed narrative: On 12/31/2023 at approximately 1:00pm, I met with the vessel operator, OP1 and his wife at their vacation residence on Siesta Key.  I explained to both subjects that I needed more information to complete the boating accident report, and then would switch the investigation over to address any criminal infractions or citations that needed to be addressed.  Both subjects were cooperative and provided me with the information required to complete the boating accident report.  At this point, I read both subjects their Miranda Rights from my agency issued Miranda Card.  Both subjects stated they understood each of their rights and would continue to speak with me.
I asked the subjects for an accurate location of where the accident occurred, and OP1 pulled up a picture of the bridge on his Maps application on his cell phone and showed me the bridge he struck was the Boulevard of the Presidents bridge near St. Armands Circle.  This was different from the information provided in the attached LKPD report.  OP1 maintained his account that he was traveling at a slow speed when the T-top of the vessel struck the bridge.  Both subjects thought they had enough clearance to make it under the bridge and were mistaken.  The extensive damage to the vessel appears to indicate a faster speed was involved, and when asked about this, OP1 stated that he thought there may have been damage that he did not notice prior to renting the vessel.  When specifically asked if he had noted any damage to the vessel prior to departing the Marina with marina staff, OP1 said, “No.”  )

ICW Near Jewfish Key
SARASOTA                      