STOCK ISLAND, Fla. – A man from Cape Coral was arrested Tuesday after he stole a boat from Sunset Water Sports on Stock Island, deputies said.
Yasmani Chamizo-Betancourt, 24, is charged with criminal mischief and grand theft.
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Detectives responded to the Hurricane Hole Marina in the morning after Florida Fish and Wildlife officials found the boat abandoned on the west side of Key West. They said the boat was grounded on flats.
Employees of Sunset Water Sports hadn't discovered that the boat was missing until the 21-foot center console vessel was found by authorities.
Deputies said surveillance video from the marina showed Chamizo-Betancourt riding a bike toward the marina just after 6 a.m. They said he walked onto the boat, whose keys were left on board. Deputies said he left the marina on the boat.
A witness who lives where the boat ran aground told deputies that he saw the suspect trying to get the boat off the flats. He said he saw Chamizo-Betancourt swim to an abandoned sailboat nearby and climb aboard.
Authorities found Chamizo-Betancourt on the boat, and said he claimed to have been dropped off on the sailboat by a friend.
He was arrested and taken to jail.
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