<\/p>\n
During a news conference on Aug. 7, 2026, Michael Simpson denies turning off a diver\u2019s air supply on July 29, 2026.<\/p>\n
CBS News Miami<\/p>\n
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has asked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to move the attempted-murder case against boater Michael Simpson out of Miami-Dade County, citing a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n
Rundle\u2019s office filed paperwork Friday afternoon to send the case to another jurisdiction. Both she and Simpson are members of the county\u2019s Boater Safety and Bay Education Task Force. DeSantis\u2019 office has not said where the case will be sent.<\/p>\n
Simpson is accused of cutting off the air supply to an 18-year-old diver during a lobster-diving dispute in Biscayne Bay on July 29.<\/p>\n
Investigators say Simpson objected to another boater anchoring near his spot and then shut off the air supply to a teen who was diving from that boat.<\/p>\n
Simpson denied the accusation in two videos that he and his sons shared publicly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI threatened to turn off the air. It\u2019s a lie. It\u2019s a 100% lie,\u201d Simpson said.<\/p>\n
He also denied touching the equipment. \u201cNever touched the air valve, never touched the machine, nothing,\u201d Simpson said.<\/p>\n
Simpson says a law-enforcement officer who is from Broward County and was on the other boat was the aggressor. Simpson told a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer that a large man began yelling at his 18-year-old son, Conrad.<\/p>\n
Simpson says he stepped between his son and the man and that the man pulled a rope attached to the diver\u2019s air supply.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe pulled it, and the machine turns off,\u201d Simpson said. \u201cHe kind of does this shuffle. He falls on the edge of the boat and falls into the water. Immediately he comes up and does one stroke toward my child. He stops. He comes back and holds up and says, \u2018Film this s—. Murderers!\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
Conrad Simpson said he was caught off-guard by the confrontation. \u201cLiterally, I had no idea what was going on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
CBS News Miami contacted Michael Simpson\u2019s accusers and their attorney. They disputed his claims but did not provide further comments.<\/p>\n